Quotes by Virgil Thomson

• In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to crush your social rivals, and in Florence you learn poise.
• You explain how it went, and as far as you can figure out how it got that way.
• I don't care what other critics say, I only hope to be played.
• Try a thing you haven't done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time to figure out whether you like it or not.
• Reviewing music or reviewing anything is a writing job. It's nice if you are experienced in the field you are writing about, but writing is what you are doing.
• Musicians own music because music owns them.
• Let your mind alone, and see what happens.
• I said to my friends that if I was going to starve, I might as well starve where the food is good.
• I never learned to verbalize an abstract musical concept. No thank you. The whole point of being a serious musician is to avoid verbalization whenever you can.
• I look at you and I write down what I hear.
• I let her alone and when she got that finished she left me alone. We trusted each other.
• I don't go around regretting things that don't happen.
• I don't have to worry No matter what they do to it, it works.