You might lose your spontaneity and, instead of composing first-rate Gershwin, end up with second rate Ravel.

The only love affair I have ever had was with music.

For Debussy the musician and the man I have had profound admiration, but by nature I'm different from him. I think I have always personally followed a direction opposed to that of the symbolism of Debussy.

My intention here is to make it clear that not a single cell of my composition, here in regard to The Raven, is found by chance or intuition, that the composition moved towards perfection with the precision and inevitability of a mathematical equation.

We should always remember that sensitiveness and emotion constitute the real content of a work of art.

Another significant influence, other than Chabrier - is from Satie, who had a notable effect on Debussy, on myself, and, to tell the truth, on the majority of modern French composers.