The real composer thinks about his work the whole time; he is not always conscious of this, but he is aware of it later when he suddenly knows what he will do.

A good composer does not imitate; he steals.

A good composer does not imitate; he steals

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.

Hurry! I never hurry. I have no time to hurry. - Responding to his publisher's request that he hurry his completion of a composition.

I was born out of due time in the sense that by temperament and talent I should have been more suited for the life of a small Bach, living in anonymity and composing regularly for an established service and for God