Writing an opera and premiering in England, you could say I was going right into the eye of the storm and I came out successfully. A little tattered and bruised, but so what, I made it.

I think the minute you mention death, people run for the hills - unless it's heavy metal. People do not like death.

There's no life without humour. It can make the wonderful moments of life truly glorious, and it can make tragic moments bearable.

I believe a lot of our lives are spent asleep, and what I've been trying to do is hold on to those moments when a little spark cuts through the fog and nudges you.

Life is a game and true love is a trophy.

I've developed into quite a swan. I'm one of those people that will probably look better and better as I get older - until I drop dead of beauty.

I'm your knight in shining armor. I'm here to save you from Linkin Park.

Cigarettes and chocolate milk These are just a couple of my cravings Everything it seems I like's a little bit stronger A little bit thicker A little bit harmful for me.

I am always writing; if you want to survive in this business, you need to keep working, keep creating and never stop the output.

Being uncool is being pretty much the coolest you can be.

I like to make the mundane fabulous whenever I can.

There is a direct relationship between the number of times you attempt a task and the likelihood of success.

A man paints with his brains and not with his hands.

I am such a pessimist that every project has surpassed what I envisioned.

Be talented enough to make it and stupid enough to keep trying.

I have never acknowledged the difference between serious music and light music. There is only good music and bad music.

The ability to forget a sorrow is childhood's most enchanting feature.

We should not wonder at the success of communism, for so much of its success is rather that of religion.

It's the government's job to encourage entrepreneurialism and investment. Most importantly, it's the government's duty to inspire confidence.

There was an honorable tradition of using anonymous sources that was ruined by Jayson Blair.

Decisions are the doorway to change.