Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down.

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.

Let your mind alone, and see what happens.

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.

I took up windsurfing to explore my own courage.

The kind of dreams you have determines the kind of people to get connected to.

In the race of life, you need self confidence, courage and faith in your abilities to win the race.

The fact that I loved you was the greatest lie I have ever lived.

Though top executives may work as hard as ever-in part perhaps because, being trained in an earlier day, they can hardly help doing so-their subordinates are somewhat less work-minded.

Discipline is positive. Discipline is training. Teaching and discipline are inseparable.

What humbugs we are, who pretend to live for beauty, and never see the dawn!

A lot of it's experimental, spontaneous. It's about knocking about in the studio and bumping into things.

I'm a literalist. I believe what people say. When they say it, I think they mean it.

Awakening is the purpose that enfolds all purposes.