I believe that man's noblest endowment is his capacity to change.

What [Louis Armstrong] does is real, and true, and honest, and simple, and even noble. Every time this man puts his trumpet to his lips, even if only to practice three notes, he does it with his whole soul.

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.

Life without music is unthinkable.

The 20th century has been a badly written drama, from the beginning.

If you're a good composer, you steal good steals.

It would be nice to hear someone accidentally whistle something of mine, somewhere, just once.