Bach is like an astronomer who, with the help of ciphers, finds the most wonderful stars . . . Beethoven embraced the universe with the power of his spirit . . . I do not climb so high. A long time ago I decided that my universe will be the soul and heart of man.

Sometimes I can only groan, and suffer, and pour out my despair at the piano.

As something has involuntarily crept into my head through my eyes,I love to indulge it, even though it may be all wrong.

Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.

I wish I could throw off the thoughts which poison my happiness, but I take a kind of pleasure in indulging them.

As long as I have health and strength, I will gladly work all my days.

To be a great composer requires immense experience... One acquires this by listening not only to other men's work, but above all to one's own!