A liberal is a man or a woman or a child who looks forward to a better day, a more tranquil night, and a bright, infinite future.

Any asshole can write a tone-row. It takes a composer to write a tune.

I'm not interested in having an orchestra sound like itself. I want it to sound like the composer.

I believe in people. I feel, love, need and respect people above all else, including natural scenery, organized piety and nationalistic superstructures. One human figure on the slope of a mountain can make the mountain disappear for me, one person fighting for truth can disqualify for me the entire system which had dispensed it.

Mozart's music is constantly escaping from its frame, because it cannot be contained in it.

From New Year's on the outlook brightens; good humor lost in a mood of failure returns. I resolve to stop complaining.

It is hard to think of another composer who so perfectly marries form and passion.