When a man is in despair, it means that he still believes in something.

Every piece of music is a form of personal expression for its creator...If a work doesnt express the composers own personal point of view, his own ideas, then it doesnt, in my opinion, even deserve to be born.

I always try to make myself as widely understood as possible; and if I don't succeed, I consider it my own fault.

He fell like a chicken into the soup.

Real music is always revolutionary, for it cements the ranks of the people; it arouses them and leads them onward.

A great piece of music is beautiful regardless of how it is performed.

I don't know what will become of this piece. Our brave critics will no doubt charge me with imitating Ravel's Bolero. Too bad - this is how I hear war.