Let your mind alone, and see what happens.

I said to my friends that if I was going to starve, I might as well starve where the food is good.

Try a thing you haven't done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.

In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to crush your social rivals, and in Florence you learn poise.

I seem to write an opera about every 20 years; if you live long enough you can write four operas. I finished my third in 1970.

The way to write American music is simple. All you have to do is be an American and then write any kind of music you wish.

I listened to the pure crystalline notes of one of Mozart's concertos dropping at my feet like leaves from the trees.

I've never known a musician who regretted being one. Music itself is not going to let you down.

A libretto that should never have been accepted on a subject that should never have been chosen bya man who should never have attempted it.

Reviewing music or reviewing anything is a writing job. It's nice if you are experienced in the field you are writing about, but writing is what you are doing.

Musicians own music because music owns them.

The measure of greatness is in humility, simplicity, and in kindness.

You're either living on purpose or performance.

True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary and nothing but what is necessary.

Don't let small minded people dictate how you should look and be free.

Then let us go and be terrible.

What is behind your eyes holds more power than what is in front of them.

For me, I feel like if a woman doesn't find me attractive 'cause I'm taking care of myself, then that's not the woman I want.

Often, city fathers blamed prostitutes for the disease, and some threatened to brand their cheeks with hot iron if they did not desist from their vices.

Always follow your own path.

You can never solve a financial problem with money. The only way for you to have a larger net worth is for you to go within to see why you are going without.