Quarrels in France strengthen a love affair, in America they end it.

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

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

Why, after all, must everyone like music? That they are missing something is just the lover's opinion.

Divine fires do not blaze each day but an artist functions in their afterglow, hoping for their recurrence.

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

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