Igor Stravinsky — "What gives the artist real prestige is his imitators."

"We can neither put back the clock nor slow down our forward speed, and as we are already flying pilotless, on instrument controls, it is even too late to ask where we are going."

"I come to Italy [1935] not only to make music, but also to be in a country that is moving forward vigorously, that affirms itself ever more rigorously, in which one sees everywhere the imprint, and on…"

"I was not especially friendly with Rachmaninov at the time, nor, I think, was any one else: social relations with a man of Rachmaninov's temperament require more perseverance than I can afford: he was…"

"We in Russia have our Trotskys, and I myself should be highly annoyed if anyone were to take them for authentic Russians."

"I could not live without music, but I could live without the public."