You can't drive a Spike with a Tack Hammer

Sincere composers believe in God.

There is one thing that freezes a musician more than the deadliest physical cold, and that is the spiritual chill of an unresponsive audience!

I think that the quality of all bands is steadily improving and it is a pleasant thought to me that perhaps the efforts of Sousa's Band have quickened that interest and improved that quality.

The office of President is a great one; to every true American it seems the greatest on earth. And to me, as I was engaged in weaving a background of music for the pageantry of it, there came a deeper realization of the effect of that office on the man.

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

My success is not due to any personal superiority over other people.