Composers are the only people who can hear good music above bad sounds.

I firmly believe that we have more latent musical talent in America than there is in any other country. But to dig it out there must be good music throughout the land, a lot of it. Everyone must hear it, and such a process takes time.

From childhood I was passionately fond of music and wanted to be a musician. I have no recollection of any real desire ever to be anything else.

I can almost always write music; at any hour of the twenty-four, if I put pencil to paper, music comes.

The vocal cord will be eliminated by a process of evolution, as was the tail of man when he came from the ape.

To the average mind popular music would mean compositions vulgarly conceived and commonplace in their treatment. That is absolutely false.

Dance as though no one is watching. Love as though you've never been hurt. Sing as though no one can hear you. Live as though heaven is on earth.