All the doctors who wanted to forbid me to smoke and to drink are dead.

Pay no attention to what the critics say; no statue has ever been erected to a critic.

Music begins where the possibilities of language end.

If we understood the world, we would realize that there is a logic of harmony underlying its manifold apparent dissonances.

Music is, for me, like a beautiful mosaic which God has put together. He takes all the pieces in his hand, throws them into the world, and we have to recreate the picture from the pieces.

If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price. Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.

Music is on a higher plane than everything else in this world.

Whereas most other modern composers are engaged in manufacturing cocktails of every hue and description, I offer the public cold spring water.

I often conduct an orchestra in my sleep; my orchestras are so huge that the back desks of the violas vanish into the horizon. And everything is so wonderful.

Millions of years ago, in my previous incarnations, I must have been related to swans... because I can still feel that affinity.

The framework of a symphony must be so strong that it forces you to follow it, regardless of the environment and circumstances.

The most disgusting human trait is bias because it ends of leading to propaganda, hate and violence.

I could be walking down the street one minute and get a handshake and then get spat on the next. I'm never sure whether to wear gloves or a helmet.

I was never interested in being a rock star. I always wanted to be Boris Karloff.

To have not shot his friend in the face would have sent a message to the quail that America is weak.

There is a definite moment when a work congeals and crystallizes. Once I am finished with a painting, I am happy to send it off into the world so I can get to work on the next one.

If you want to predict the future create it.

Stress is not a state of mind... it's measurable and dangerous, and humans can't seem to find their off-switch.

New Yorkers are so impersonal, if it wasn't for muggings there wouldn't be any contact at all!

Reflect as if you have all of time, even when time is short.

... and still I stayed to plan all my revenge, my vengeance against those who had turned me from good to evil, and made of me what I was going to be from this day forward.