It's not evil that's ruining the earth, but mediocrity. The crime is not that Nero played while Rome burned, but that he played badly.

Perfection is no more a requisite to art than to heroes. Frigidaires are perfect. Beauty limps. My frigidaire has had to be replaced.

If you read reviews of concerts, the word 'creative' comes up all the time. However, performers playing music usually aren't creative. Critics might say they are, but they're just playing another persons work. They didn't create it.

Arguably, no artist grows up: If he sheds the perceptions of childhood, he ceases being an artist.

composition is notation of distortion of what composers think they've heard before. Masterpieces are marvelous misquotations.

Compose first, worry later.

Nothing is a waste that makes a memory.