George Gershwin

"Every great artist has to find their own language, not copy someone else's."

"I measured my success not by reviews but by whether people's hearts moved."

"Life is a symphony - it needs both loud moments and quiet ones."

"The pianist's fingers are just the instrument - the mind creates the music."

"Life is a lot like jazz - it's better when you improvise."

"The real American folk song is a rag - that's to me its crux and meaning."

"I don't think there's ever been enough music."

"True music must repeat the thought and inspirations of the people and the time."

"Inspiration is a farce that poets have invented to give themselves importance."

"The way to write American music is simple - all you have to do is be American and write any kind of music you wish."

"Just as people have always fought with their neighbors, so artists will always compete with rival artists - this is healthy and necessary."

"A composer is a fellow who goes home to his house and when he's finished, he's finished."

"Summertime and the livin' is easy - or so the song goes, but life takes hard work."

"I've written perhaps a dozen memorable melodies in my life - that's not bad for a lifetime of work."

"Without music, the world would be a much duller place."

"Jazz I regard as an American invention, something that will last."

"You've got to love what you're doing to be successful at it."

"Creativity takes courage - you must be willing to take risks."

"The melody is the soul of music."

"Great music is the outpouring of an immortal soul."

"I want to write music that the average person will understand and enjoy."

"Success in music is about connecting with your audience's heart."

"Art should be enjoyed, not analyzed to death."

"The best songs come from honest emotion and real experience."

"A writer of serious music must believe in his purpose."

"You cannot create art while worrying about commercial success."

"Beautiful melodies transcend language and culture."

"The future of American music lies in our jazz heritage."

"Every composer must find his own voice and not imitate others."

"Music should make you feel something - if it doesn't, it's not worth your time."