A primary function of art and thought is to liberate the individual from the tyranny of his culture in the environmental sense and to permit him to stand beyond it in an autonomy of perception and judgment.

Attachment to spiritual things is... just as much an attachment as inordinate love of anything else.

Why let one high C ruin your whole evening?

It seemed no longer important whether everyone loved me or not, more important now was for me to love them

There is no shortcut to anyplace worth going.

I know that anybody who does all this and doesn't have to, everything thinks she's very driven. The truth is, I enjoy it all so! Can't it be that simple? I think it is! I don't feel overworked. I get a constant kick out of being heavily committed. Is that sick or something? God, what would I do sitting still?

There is something in me-I just can't stand to admit defeat.