A symphony is no joke.

Those who enjoy their own emotionally bad health and who habitually fill their own minds with the rank poisons of suspicion, jealousy and hatred, as a rule take umbrage at those who refuse to do likewise, and they find a perverted relief in trying to denigrate them.

Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.

A symphony is no joke.

Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.

I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.

It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

We cling nervously to the melody, but we don't handle it freely, we don't really make anything new out of it, we merely overload it.

Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully.

If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.

We cling nervously to the melody but we dont handle it freely we dont really make anything new out of it we merely overload it.

Without craftsmanship inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.

We have this unspoken connection. We see each other, lock eyes, smile that one certain smile that means nothing to anyone else, but the world to us, and keep going on. life goes on, but our love remains.

Once we have this inner peace, world peace can be achieved in the twinkling of an eye.

And what unity is to be had, at a time when orchestras are dying out, and when opera houses are about to close their doors; what's going to come next - when nothing new in music, for the orchestra, is truly lasting: pieces are performed once, and then they're thrown away.

The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.

We struck an unusual deal. I'll get to leave CNN with my catalog and documentaries. We were able to create a brand at CNN - 'Black in America' - that I now own. I can take that brand and extend it in any way I want.

My philosophy about the game, for instance, is that you have players out there who really do different things.

Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will.

A person possessed with an idea cannot be reasoned with.

I owe Mr. Bergman so much.

To be a success love what you do and what you love.

I think as a culture, we don't like conflict or looking at icky stuff - especially in our downtime.

Pop art is for everyone.

It's very difficult for the American people to believe that our government, one of the richest on Earth, is also one of the stingiest on Earth.

I never argue with people about movies.

You don't need to spend a lot of money on stuff when you have amazing architecture.

A lot of places we go, when they see the organ coming in, they're expecting rock and roll, but after they hear us play they like it. To me, guitar cuts through-it carries more than organ. But organ has got more guts.

I love technology - yes, I have fallen in love with older cars, but I'm all for new technology.

I was honoured recently to accept the position of president of Mizrachi U.K. I did so because I believe our eternal challenge as Jews is both straightforward and also awash with complexity: How to sanctify the innovations of the modern world in accordance with our eternal Jewish values?

I grew up with the great Sir Laurence Olivier, and I think it's fair to say that a lot of actors of my age were influenced by his very individual vocal delivery. He was a showman who would always play to the gallery.

It is misery, you know, unspeakable misery for the man who lives alone and who detests sordid, casual affairs; not old enough to do without women, but not young enough to be able to go and look for one without shame!

We couldn't predict what would happen with 'Roots.' You knew there were powerful moments that were going to affect people. We were making the film while the book was being completed. We were fortunate because the hardcover book was out and on the best-seller list. The heat was still on.

I love finding balance. My favorite thing to do is action-driven, emotionally-charged scenes.

I think the roles in television are better for women right now. At this point, I don't want to continue doing the same things I've been doing in film because it's very limited.

My own personal connection with God was not in a religious sense, so I wasn't really thinking in that way when I got the role and when I started doing it.