As a lifelong pacifist, Quaker, and a gay man, I despair that gays and lesbians are expending energy trying to get into the military when they should be using that same energy getting rid of the military completely.

There are no fascinating people, only their works are fascinating.

Bel canto is to opera what pole-vaulting is to ballet.

Intelligence is silence, truth is being invisible. But what a racket I make in declaring this.

Music is the sole art which evokes nostalgia for the future.

Humor is the ability to see three sides to one coin.

The art of translation lies less in knowing the other language than in knowing your own.