A work of art does not answer questions, it provokes them; and its essential meaning is in the tension between the contradictory answers. Leonard Bernstein More Quotes by Leonard Bernstein More Quotes From Leonard Bernstein I'm no longer quite sure what the question is, but I do know that the answer is Yes. Leonard Bernstein answers knows Success is all very well as long as you don't inhale. Leonard Bernstein inhale wells long When I am with composers, I say I am a conductor. When I am with conductors, I say I am a composer. Leonard Bernstein conductor composer I believe that man's noblest endowment is his capacity to change. Leonard Bernstein change men believe Inspiration is wonderful when it happens, but the writer must develop an approach for the rest of the time... The wait is simply too long. Leonard Bernstein inspiration writing long Elvis is the greatest cultural force in the twentieth century. He introduced the beat to everything, music, language, clothes, it's a whole new social revolution - the 60's comes from it. Leonard Bernstein clothes revolution language Life without music is unthinkable. Life without music is academic. That is why my contact with music is a total embrace. Leonard Bernstein life-without-music embrace academic This must be the mission of every man of goodwill: to insist, unflaggingly, at risk of becoming a repetitive bore, but to insist on the achievement of a world in which the mind will have triumphed over violence. Leonard Bernstein risk mind men Any asshole can write a tone-row. It takes a composer to write a tune. Leonard Bernstein tone tunes writing Our most emotionally active life is lived in our dreams, and our cells renew themselves most industriously in sleep. We reach highest in meditation, and farthest in prayer. In stillness every human being is great; he is free from the experience of hostility; he is a poet, and most like an angel. Leonard Bernstein prayer dream sleep I believe in people. I feel, love, need and respect people above all else, including natural scenery, organized piety and nationalistic superstructures. One human figure on the slope of a mountain can make the mountain disappear for me, one person fighting for truth can disqualify for me the entire system which had dispensed it. Leonard Bernstein fighting believe people Mozart's music is constantly escaping from its frame, because it cannot be contained in it. Leonard Bernstein escaping music-is In the olden days, everybody sang. You were expected to sing as well as talk. It was a mark of the cultured man to sing. Leonard Bernstein wells mark men Life without music is unthinkable. Leonard Bernstein life-without-music without-music music-is The joy of music should never be interrupted by a commercial. Leonard Bernstein music joy funny It would be nice to hear someone accidentally whistle something of mine, somewhere, just once. Leonard Bernstein music nice would-be The most difficult instrument to play in the orchestra is second fiddle. Leonard Bernstein orchestra instruments play I believe that from that Earth emerges a musical poetry, which is by the nature of its sources tonal. I believe that these sources cause to exist a phonology of music, which evolves from the universal known as the harmonic series. Leonard Bernstein musical inspiration believe When the study of the arts leads to the adoration of the formula (heaven forbid), we shall be lost. Leonard Bernstein study heaven art From New Year's on the outlook brightens; good humor lost in a mood of failure returns. I resolve to stop complaining. Leonard Bernstein new-year funny years