""Nothing less hateful than music without ulterior motive."
Deep words, rather little known. It is true that Chopin claimed it constantly in his work. Did we understand ? The other way round."

"If [the Chansons Madécasses] were not completely in Schoenberg's style, it is because I am less afraid, in music, of the element charm, avoided by him until asceticism, until martyrdom."

"The Music for the musicians. True interpretation of Chopin's idea. Not for the professionals, good gracious no. Musican : creator or dilettante; human being, sensible to the rythm, the melody, the harmony, the atmosphere that creates sounds. Being thrilled by the progression between two chords as by the relation between two colors. The material : this matters first in all arts. The rest ensues."

"You wouldn't really want that I went out with this pre-war overcoat  ! Now It is bell-shaped fashion!" (HJM)

"I never was so happy to live and I firmly believe that joy is more fruitful than suffering." (letter to Mrs René de Saint-Marceaux )