Study Bach. There you will find everything.

Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.

One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.

The idea comes to me from outside of me - and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own - that is where the skill lies.

If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.

Reviewer: 'One of your themes was very similar to one of Beethoven's!' Brahms replied, 'Of course it is. Everyone steals - the important thing is to do it brilliantly.

It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.

It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.

The only true immortality lies in one's children.

Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.

Life is truly too short to not be HAPPY and GRATEFUL today.

The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell.

It's better to have tried and failed than to live life wondering what would've happened if I had tried

Every American carries in his bloodstream the heritage of the malcontent and the dreamer.

When I started out I was definitely more traditional. It was 1988. Everyone was doing the Jerry Seinfeld.

The greater the responsibility, the greater the reward.

Be humble, believe in yourself, and have the love of the world in your heart.

One speaks with great respect of economists, if only because they represent such a variety of opinions.

I think that Medvedev and Putin are in on it together. One is playing the good cop and the other the bad cop.