Quotes by Ned Rorem

“Inspiration could be called inhaling the memory of an act never experienced.”

“The hardest of all the arts to speak of is music, because music has no meaning to speak of”

“Arguably, no artist grows up: If he sheds the perceptions of childhood, he ceases being an artist.”

“Humor is the ability to see three sides to one coin.”

“The twelve-toners behave as if music should be seen and not heard”

“Art means to dare - and to have been right”

“Divine fires do not blaze each day, but an artist functions in their afterglow hoping for their recurrence.”

“To see itself through, music must have idea or magic. ... Music with neither dies young though rich.”

Artists by definition innocent dont steal. But they do borrow without giving back.

Classic means standard as opposed to Romantic: form before meaning as opposed to meaning before form. It grows from inside out while Romantic grows from outside in.

Sooner or later youve heard all your best friends have to say. Then comes the tolerance of real love.

Inspiration could be called inhaling the memory of an act never experienced.

Perfection is no more a requisite to art than to heroes.

The art of translation lies less in knowing the other language than in knowing your own.

Humor is the ability to see three sides to one coin.