By the time I was 9, I had the conviction that everybody in the world was an artist except plumbers or people who delivered groceries.

I'll read, and then I'll take naps. When I feel sleep coming on, I give in and don't fight it.

Americans began by loving youth, and now, out of adult self-pity, they worship it.

Music, not being made up of objects nor referring to objects, is intangible and ineffable; it can only be as it were inhaled by the spirit: the rest is silence.

Only a great mind that is overthrown yields tragedy

The reason teaching has to go on is that children are not born human; they are made so.

Vanity is a static thing. It puts it faith in what it has, and is easily wounded. Pride is active, and satisfied only with what it can do, hence accustomed not to feel small stings.