音樂家的藝術不在於直接描繪形象，而在於把心靈置於這些物件能夠在心靈裡創造的情緒中去。

靈感全然不是漂亮地揮著手，而是如健牛般竭盡全力工作的心理狀態。

音樂是比一切智慧、一切哲學更高的啟示，誰能滲透我音樂的意義，便能超脫尋常人無以自拔的苦難。

生活的苦難壓不垮我。我心中的歡樂不是我自己的，我把歡樂注進音樂，為的是讓全世界感到歡樂。

最好的音樂是這種音樂，它能夠使最優秀、最有教養的人快樂，特別是使那個在品德和修養上最為卓越的一個人快樂。

音樂是心靈的迸發。它不象化學那樣能進行實驗分析。對偉大的音樂來說只有一種真正的特性，那就是感情。

人們時常埋怨音樂是這樣的模糊，聽音樂時，簡直不知如何去想才好。但每個人對文學總是能夠理解的。不過，對我來說……一首我喜愛的樂曲所傳達給我的思想和意義是不能用語言表達的。這不是因為音樂不夠具體，而是因為它太具體了。因此，我發現：每當我試圖用文字或語言來說明一段音樂時，好象是說過了，但又好象說的都不令人滿意。

音樂是一種語言，它能確切地反映個人和人民的精神品質。

在真正的音樂中，充滿了一千種心靈的感受，比言詞更好得多。

藝術的真正意義在於使人幸福，使人得到鼓舞和力量。

音樂是比一切智慧、一切哲學更高的啟示。

人都需要娛樂和變換興趣，以防止變得遲鈍、呆滯和智力上的閉塞。

音樂只對安寧的心境具有魅力

音樂，是人生最大的快樂；音樂，是生活中的一股清流；首先，是陶冶性情的熔爐。

音樂表達的是無法用語言描述，卻又不可能對其保持沉默的東西。

音樂不只是表達的藝術，它還是能引起激動的藝術。

音樂歌頌人們的生活，引導人們走向光明的未來。

音樂家必須不斷地反身自省，培養自己最內在的東西，以便使它轉向外界。

音樂教育並不是音樂家的教育，而首先是人的教育。

音樂教育——不是培養音樂家，首先是培養人。

音樂教育除了非常注重道德和社會目的外，必須把美的東西作為自己的目的來探求，把人教育成美和善的。

音樂是不假任何外力，直接沁人心脾的最純的感情的火焰；它是從口吸入的空氣，它是生命的血管中流通著的血液。

No, let's make sure that people understand that this is a very important war that is helping to protect us here at home. And that we have no choice but to win it. As difficult as it is.

Back in my mind, I never, ever wanted to give up swimming; it was something that I would carry on with.

There are two ways to wake up. You can wake up thinking about what you know, or you wake up thinking and saying 'What can I learn?.' That's a very different approach.

I think at this point in my life, I'd like to play more good guys than bad guys.

Guess what? The world changes. eBay has defined e-commerce.

We have to come together, worldwide, and 'think.' We have a tool - the internet - to let us do that. Let's use it wisely.

I read a lot of literary theory when I was in graduate school, especially about novels, and the best book I ever read about endings was Peter Brooks' 'Reading for the Plot. '

The divine moment is holy.

I think a politician would be very, very cool to play. Or an American musician of some sort, or like an American pioneer like the Dohenys or the Rockefellers or something.

It really annoys me that I'm vain, but unfortunately, I haven't been able to discard that tendency.

I think when you have lawyers arguing over whether you can keep a detainee at 46 degrees... for two hours, that's not torture. It may be unpleasant, it may be coercive... but let's say what torture actually is, and that's not it.

Metaphors are our way of losing ourselves in semblances or treading water in a sea of seeming.

I'm very concerned about the tone of politics in recent years. We've seen a decline in civility and bipartisanship, and a rapid increase in hostility between those who have differing opinions. I think this has led to the alienation of the public in governance, which jeopardizes democratic participation.

There is no difference between me and Netanyahu in reading the threat of Iran. There is no daylight between us on this issue at all.

To date or not to date that is the question. It's almost as important as Shakespeare's to be or not to be which deals with death.

My manners, abominable at times, can be sweet.

I love you exactly as you are.

When I write, I create really absurd situations which become false because I am after the joke.

'Mad Men' still lives in my life as the best job that I've ever had because I thought the character was genius. It was so well-written.

Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement.

I think I'm a writer, and it's my job. People in other professions are expected to do their jobs all the time. Why shouldn't I?

The ability to accept responsibility is the measure of the man.

I came rather late to film. I've done an awful lot of theater before - before I discovered the camera, you know, seeing everything, requiring much less acting and - and much less presentation, much less projecting, more just being.

Reality seems valueless by comparison with the dreams of fevered imaginations; reality is therefore abandoned.