I belong to the givers. I want to give a little happiness even if I haven’t had much for myself. Music has enriched my life and, hopefully - through me, a little - the public’s. If anyone left an opera house feeling more happy and at peace, I achieved my purpose.

[During fee negotiations for singing in Vienna:] I'm not interested in money, but it must be more than anyone else gets.

An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down. It starts in my imagination, it becomes my life, and it stays part of my life long after I've left the opera house.

I would not kill my enemies, but I will make them get down on their knees. I will, I can, I must.

When music fails to agree to the ear, to soothe the ear and the heart and the senses, then it has missed the point.

Don't talk to me about rules, dear. Wherever I stay I make the goddam rules.

I cannot switch my voice. My voice is not like an elevator going up and down.