How was your flight? Well, aeronautically it was a great success. Socially, it left quite a bit to be desired.

Consider the public. Never fear it nor despise it. Coax it, charm it, interest it, stimulate it, shock it now and then if you must, make it laugh, make it cry, but above all never, never, never bore the living hell out of it.

Squash - that's not exercise, it's flagellation.

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.

I can take any amount of criticism, as long as it is unqualified praise.

My importance to the world is relatively small. On the other hand, my importance to myself is tremendous. I am all I have to work with, to play with, to suffer and to enjoy. It is not the eyes of others that I am wary of, but of my own. I do not intend to let myself down more than I can possibly help, and I find that the fewer illusions I have about myself or the world around me, the better company I am for myself.

Grab it while you can — grab every scrap of happiness while you can