When you were young, and your heart, was an open book. You used to say, live and let live.

I'm very happy to hear that my work inspires writers and painters. It's the most beautiful compliment, the greatest reward. Art should always be an exchange.

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.

The earth has music for those who listen.

Comedy is the blues for people who can?t sing.

The spoken form is in fact a very restrained representation of what is possible in the musical language.

Artistic temperament is a disease that afflicts amateurs.

Music is the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend.

Being a celebrity has taught me to hide, but being an actor has opened my soul.

Music with dinner is an insult, both to the cook and the violinist.

Adding sound to movies would be like putting lipstick on the Venus de Milo.

I have a genuine love affair with my audience. When I`m on stage they`re not privileged to see me. It`s a privilege for me to see them.

I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them.

Music can change the world because it can change people.

I love rock-n-roll. I think it's an exciting art form. It's revolutionary. Still revolutionary and it changed people. It changed their hearts. But yeah, even rock-n-roll has a lot of rubbish, really bad music.

Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.

Once you become predictable, no one's interested anymore.

Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.

Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.

Art is never finished, only abandoned.