Whatever needs to be maintained through force is doomed.

True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself.

Music is the can-opener of the soul.

I'd rather sit down and write a letter than call someone up. I hate the telephone.

People used to envy me my inspiration. I hate inspiration. It takes you over completely. I could never wait until it passed and I got rid of it.

The more I wrote, the more I became a human being. The writing may have seemed monstrous (to some) for it was a violation, but I became a more human individual because of it. I was getting the poison out of my system.

I demanded a realm in which I should be both master and slave at the same time: The world of art is the only such realm.