I learned from my uncle that jazz, like symphony music, was built to last.

Franz Kline, who became known for his black and white paintings, did a whole series of gorgeous landscapes and wonderful portraits that may still hang in Greenwich Village.

Today's trend ends up in tomorrow's landfill.

That is the way a great master carpenter feels, or an architect or composer or anyone who creates anything - people want to be appreciated for what they have done.

The atmosphere was wide open in those circles that we traveled in.

In symphonic music, when you are conducting, you do the same thing. You are feeling the whole orchestra, thinking ahead so you can prepare for a change.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti had a tremendous education as an artist and also an enormous knowledge of literarture.

We met with the poet Frank O'Hara, who was a link between Upper and Lower Bohemia, and who worked at the Museum of Modern Art, where we had hoped to do the readings.

A few years later, my Uncle David took me to the Earle Theatre to hear Duke Ellington.

Allen Ginsberg was a world authority on the writing of William Blake, and had an incredible knowledge of classic literature and world politics.

I wish to share and pass down some of my generation's traits, and encourage young people to create their own art, music, and literature.

This is the world. Half of it is lit by the sun and the other half remains in darkness. It is the same with life. There is good and bad and it's our duty to remain in the light, be good.

If you spend any time in Los Angeles, there's only one topic of conversation.

I think what holds people up in creative processes is the expectation of what it is they're doing. It's also the sense of judgement, you know, people editing themselves.

I wanted to be a psychological engineer, but we lacked the facilities, so I did the next best thing - I went into politics. It's practically the same thing.

If we could tell a film, then why make a film?

This crowd is letting Kurt know that he sucks. Just in case he had forgotten.

I'm a double bagger. Not only does my husband put a bag over my face when we're making love, but he also puts a bag over his head in case mine falls off.

Growing up is like taking down the sides of your house and letting strangers walk in.

For the progress of humanity, work alone is not adequate, but the work should be associated with love, compassion, right conduct, truthfulness and sympathy.

At some point, you realize that people might be laughing at your jokes because they're afraid not to laugh.