"Is an 'idea' an advance visualization of a piece? Part of a piece? If anything - if it hasn't already evaporated - it's one of the very first things sacrificed during the actual process of making something."

“It's always the generals with the bloodiest records who are the first to shout what a hell it is. And it's always the war widows who lead the Memorial Day parades.”

“If the student truly absorbs the concept of free inquiry in the field of music, unimpeded by blind adherence to doctrine and tradition, he will bring something of this approach not only to other fields of knowledge but to the conduct of his daily life,”

“What comes first? The melody, always. It's all about singing the melodies live in my head. They go in circles. I guess I'm quite conservative and romantic about the power of melodies. I try not to record them on my Dictaphone when I first hear them. If I forget all about it and it pops up later on, then I know it's good enough. I let my subconscious do the editing for me.”

“When you have confidence, you can do anything.”

“[There is only one possible solution to unrest in the Middle East], "namely the annihilation and destruction of the Zionist state.”

Source : "Iranian Leader Urges Destruction of Israel". The Spokesman-Review, January 01, 2000.

“I have performed many puppet and non-puppet characters in my career. Some I miss, some I do not. But when I miss them, I only miss performing them. The actual sweatiness of the fur and foam and fleece? Not so much.”

“The better part of every man's education is that which he gives himself.”

“It was involuntary. They sank my boat.”