I Like To Think Of Music As

Originality Is The Only Thing That Counts. But The Originator Uses Material And Ideas That Occur Round Him And Pass Through Him. And Out Of His Experience Comes The Original Creation.

Out Of My Entire Annual Output Of Songs, Perhaps Two, Or At The Most Three, Came As A Result Of Inspiration. We Can Never Rely On Inspiration. When We Most Want It, It Does Not Come.

My People Are Americans. My Time Is Today.

It Took Me Three Weeks To Write The 'rhapsody In Blue.' I Had Always Wanted To Write Something Blue And Paul Whiteman Inspired.

It Sounds Simple, Of Course, But Personally I Can Think Of No More Mentally Arduous Task Than Making Music.