The success of our operas rests most of the time in the hands of the conductor. This person is as necessary as a tenor or a prima donna.

I have striven for perfection, it has always eluded me, but I surely had an obligation to make one more try.

To copy the truth can be a good thing, but to invent the truth is better, much better.

I adore art...when I am alone with my notes, my heart pounds and the tears stream from my eyes, and my emotion and my joys are too much to bear.

It is better to invert reality than to copy it.

It may be a good thing to copy reality; but to invent reality is much, much better.

The artist must yield himself to his own inspiraton, and if he has a true talent, no one knows and feels better than he what suits him.

Stupid criticism and still more stupid praise.

Of all composers, past and present, I am the least learned. I mean that in all seriousness, and by learning I do not mean knowledge of music.

Oh blessed a thousand times the peasant who is born, eats and dies without anybody bothering about his affairs.

Through care taken over trends, the desire to be novel and affectation knowledge, we repudiate our art, our instinct, our own way of doing things; it is absurd and stupid

Maybe part of find what you wanted was recognizing what you didn't want. Maybe there was hope for me yet.

I might do 'X Factor' next year. It's looking good that I won't get the sack at Christmas.

I am officially a member of The New Breed!

Normally, you would not call ice a mineral.

To be clear, geoengineering won't solve global warming. It's not a 'techno-fix.' It would be enormously risky and almost certainly lead to troubling unforeseen consequences.

While I have no problem with the church adapting to the culture, we must ensure that we remain painstakingly true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we remain obedient servants to His truths.

I leave for the show at least an hour ahead, and I do some vocal warm-ups, and that's pretty much it.

Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean

It's only when you abandon your ambitions that they become possible.

Look to the horizon, spread your wings, and fly.