Virgil Thomson Quotes
"You explain how it went, and as far as you can figure out how it got that way."
- Virgil Thomson
"I don't care what other critics say, I only hope to be played."
- Virgil Thomson
(Related: Hope, Care)
"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."
- Virgil Thomson
(Related: Time, Fear)
"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."
- Virgil Thomson
(Related: Music, Job, Writing)
"Musicians own music because music owns them."
- Virgil Thomson
(Related: Music, Musicians)
"Let your mind alone, and see what happens."
- Virgil Thomson
(Related: Mind)
"I've never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to let you down."
- Virgil Thomson
(Related: Life, Music, Being, May)
"I said to my friends that if I was going to starve, I might as well starve where the food is good."
- Virgil Thomson
(Related: Food, Friends)
"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."
- Virgil Thomson
(Related: Being)
"I look at you and I write down what I hear."
- Virgil Thomson
"I let her alone and when she got that finished she left me alone. We trusted each other."
- Virgil Thomson
"I don't go around regretting things that don't happen."
- Virgil Thomson
"I don't have to worry No matter what they do to it, it works."
- Virgil Thomson
(Related: Worry)