The reason fat people are happy is that the nerves are well protected.

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.

Opera is a beautiful and important diversion for me.

You don't need any brains to listen to music.

If your body is not in shape to sing [from the diaphragm] you will push and push but keep falling back on your throat to make the sound. This will ruin your voice.

I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent, and this is what I have devoted my life to.

The rivalry is with ourself. I try to be better than is possible. I fight against myself, not against the other.