Composition gives proper meaning to the natural streams of sound that penetrate the world.

Although I am basically self taught, I consider Debussy my teacher - the most important elements are colour, light and shadow.

Music should be able to invoke the natural emotions in all human beings. Music is not notes fixed on apiece of paper.

I probably belong to a type of composer of songs who keeps thinking about melody... I am old fashioned.

I always want to write erotic music... Not only about the love between men and women, but in a much more universal sense - about the sensuality of the mechanism of the universe... about life.

Music is a form of prayer.

My teachers are Duke Ellington and nature.

I am a gardener of infinite time.

Do not confuse good tactics with good luck.

The fatal mistake we make is looking for a paradise that endures...This obsession with what lasts causes us to overlook many a fleeting paradise.

My position has always been, along with many other people, that any differences be resolved in a nonviolent way.

Music is also supposed to be fun. On this record, (titled 'III'), I really had the desire again to jump back into some good-time, fun-loving songs.

The best ideas I've had in my life are those I saw in my sleep, in the early morning.

He would have lied to himself as facilely as an alcoholic lies to himself to justify the 10 a.m. tumbler of vodka : it may be early here, but in Baghdad it's almost evening.

There are always twenty excellent reasons for doing nothing for every one reason for starting anything-especially if it has never been done before.

Well, let me tell you, gentlemen, the games of the devil are not restricted to those confined to hell. Others can play them.

You cannot believe how hard it is to try and raise money for a film. I did it for six years and it was such a failure.

I've always been a thin girl. I'm not going to be fat, ever. Let's get that straight. Whitney is not going to be fat, ever. Okay?