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.

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

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

Life without music is unthinkable.

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.

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

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