A skyscraper is at the same time a triumph of the machine and a tremendous emotional experience, almost breath-taking. Not merely its height but its mass and proportions are the result of an emotion, as well as of calculation.

All great composers of the past spent most of their time studying. Feeling alone won't do the job. A man also needs technique.

The extraordinary thing about my mother, she's so modest about me.

Originality is the only thing that counts. But the originator uses material and ideas that occur round him and pass through him. And out of his experience comes the original creation.

Writing music is not so much inspiration as hard work.

It took me three weeks to write the 'Rhapsody in Blue.' I had always wanted to write something blue and Paul Whiteman inspired.

It sounds simple, of course, but personally I can think of no more mentally arduous task than making music.