History always constitutes the relation between a present and its past. Consequently fear of the present leads to mystification of the past

The real question is: to whom does the meaning of the art of the past properly belong ? To those who can app|y it to their own lives, or to a cultural hierarchy of relic specialtsts?

What is wrong about me loving you, anyway? You make me better. You make me feel special. You make me feel like I can do anything.

... there are many to whom money has no personal appeal, but who can be tempted by the power it confers.

No matter what you write or choreograph, you feel it is not enough.

You swing your best when you have the fewest things to think about.

There's a saying, 'It's easy to write songs, but very difficult to write great songs.' I'm going through that right now.

I look at people like musical instruments. I set people to music.

Some boys go to college and eventually succeed in getting out. Others go to college and never succeed in getting out. The latter are called professors.

You're not going to get anything politically correct out of me.

It's amazing how words can do that, just shred your insides apart. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me - such bullshit.

As for what you're calling hard luck - well, we made New England out of it. That and codfish.