"I personally hate to be called revolutionist, which I am not. What I did was neither revolution nor anarchy. "
"There are plenty of good pieces waiting to be written in C major."
"The principal function of form is to advance our understanding. It is the organization of a piece which helps the listener to keep the idea in mind, to follow its development, its growth, its elaboration, its fate. "
"Lucidity is the first purpose of color in music. "
"I am quite conscious of the fact that a full understanding of my works cannot be expected before some decades. The minds of the musicians, and of the audiences, have to mature before they can comprehend my music. I know this, I have personally renounced an early success, and I know that -- success or not -- it is my historic duty to write what my destiny orders me to write."
"The taste of the public does never affect the real artist, because he is not able to create something else but to what he is pressed by his nature and development. Unfortunately some people believe now and then that he can act according to the public and the momentary success does even pay, but the betrayal takes its toll later by all means."
