I always worried I'd forget my lines or say the wrong words or the audience would laugh in the wrong places.

One thing all stage mothers share is an overpowering ambition for their daughters.

Over and over I marvel at the blessings of my life: Each year has grown better than the last.

Never trust anyone completely but God. Love people, but put your full trust only in God.

There are good days and there are bad days, and this is one of them.

One time I introduced my orchestra as the Shampoo Music Makers instead of the Champagne Music Makers.

I realized some of the pitfalls of being well-known; it was nice if you were successful, but it made it just that much harder to take when you failed.

I knew nothing of the life of a real musician, of course, but somehow I seemed to see myself standing in front of great crowds of people, playing my accordion.

Night after night I could feel the chills go up and down my spine, they played so well.

Many times I wondered if I were truly carrying out God's plan for my life.

If you put all your strength and faith and vigor into a job and try to do the best you can, the money will come.

I closed my eyes during a flute solo, wishing I could wrap the silvery sound around me like armor.

Men, she decided, were a strange, thick-skulled, ball-kicking species no one on earth could have a sensible conversation with.

Without freedom of speech, I might be in the swamp

The mercury light doesn't show red. It makes the blood in your skin look blue-black. But see how splendidly it brings out the green in the plants.

Water does not force its way.

Be not unwilling in what thou doest, neither selfish nor unadvised nor obstinate; let not over-refinement deck out thy thought; be not wordy nor a busybody.

Always look for the fool in the deal. If you don't find one, it's you.

I've been accused of vulgarity. I say that's bullshit.

Syncopations are no indication of light or trashy music, and to shy bricks at 'hateful ragtime' no longer passes for musical culture.

Everybody thinks I'm the weirdo in the family.