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.

Study Bach. There you will find everything.

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.

When your dream comes true, have another one! Your dream-box must never remain empty!

There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.

Directing my own writing, I see that I talk way too much, and everything can happen much sooner, with much less said about it.

A very wise author once said that a writer writes for himself, and then publishes for money. I write for myself and publish just for the reader

I'm appalled at how many people my age, or even five or ten years younger, have no tangible memories of important history that happened when we were growing up.

‎We need to become more unreasonable but in an intelligent way.

The whole of nature is a conjugation of the verb to eat, in the active and passive.

Reality is simply the loss of ego. Destroy the ego by seeking its identity. Because the ego is no entity it will automatically vanish and reality will shine forth by itself.

Try not to trip. We don’t have time for a concussion today.

Ridicule often checks what is absurd, and fully as often smothers that which is noble.