People are wrong when they say opera is not what it used to be. It is what it used to be. That is what's wrong with it.

We have no reliable guarantee that the afterlife will be any less exasperating than this one, have we?

Many years ago I remember a famous actress explaining to me with perfect seriousness that before making an entrance she always stood aside to allow God to go on first. I can also remember that on that particular occasion He gave a singularly uninspired performance.

What I adore is supreme professionalism. I’m bored by writers who can write only when it’s raining.

I love criticism just so long as it's unqualified praise.

My life really has been one long extravaganza.

There's always something fishy about the French.