"I have learned throughout my life as a composer chiefly through my mistakes and pursuits of false assumptions, not by my exposure to founts of wisdom and knowledge."

"I come to Italy [1935] not only to make music, but also to be in a country that is moving forward vigorously, that affirms itself ever more rigorously, in which one sees everywhere the imprint, and on…"

"He [Rachmaninov] was a six and a half foot scowl."

"The one true comment on a piece of music is another piece of music."

"My music is best understood by children and animals."