The reason we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves. The basis of optimism is sheer terror.

The world was my oyster but I used the wrong fork.

I can resist everything except temptation.

Music is the art... which most completely realizes the artistic idea and is the condition to which all the other arts are constantly aspiring.

I sometimes think that God in creating man somewhat overestimated his ability.

Freedom, individualism and being yourself so long as you don't hurt another's physical person or property: The true artist is a man who believes absolutely in himself, because he is absolutely himself.

One's days were too brief to take the burden of another's errors on one's shoulders. Each man lived his own life and paid his own price for living it.