Lesser artists borrow, great artists steal.

I remember being handed a score composed by Mozart at the age of eleven. What could I say? I felt like de Kooning, who was asked to comment on a certain abstract painting, and answered in the negative. He was then told it was the work of a celebrated monkey. 'That's different. For a monkey, it's terrific.' - "London Magazine", March, 1967.

Good artists copy, great artists steal.

Good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal from them outright.

Film music should have the same relationship to the film drama that somebody's piano playing in my living room has on the book I am reading.

The trouble with music appreciation in general is that people are taught to have too much respect for music they should be taught to love it instead.