The power of music, whether joyous or cathartic must steal on one unawares, come spontaneously as a blessing or a grace--

To be ourselves we must have ourselves – possess, if need be re-possess, our life-stories. We must “recollect” ourselves, recollect the inner drama, the narrative, of ourselves. A man needs such a narrative, a continuous inner narrative, to maintain his identity, his self.

I suspect that music has qualities both of speech and writing - partly built in, partly individually constructed - and this goes on all through one's life.

If we have youth, beauty, blessed gifts, strength, if we find fame, fortune, favor, fulfillment, it is easy to be nice, to turn a warm heart to the world.

I have to live in the richest, deepest, most productive way I can

I am now face to face with dying. But I am not finished with living.

I rejoice when I meet gifted young people... I feel the future is in good hands.