Just as appetite comes by eating, so work brings inspiration, if inspiration is not discernible at the beginning.

What gives the artist real prestige is his imitators.

The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one's self. And the arbitrariness of the constraint serves only to obtain precision of execution.

The trouble with music appreciation in general is that people are taught to have too much respect for music they should be taught to love it instead.

My God, so much I like to drink Scotch that sometimes I think my name is Igor Stra-whiskey.

Silence, which will save from shame, will also deprive me of fame.

The trick is to compose what one wants to compose and to get it commissioned afterward.