Pierre Schaeffer

People who share the same language, French or Chinese or whatever, have the same vocal cords and emit sounds which are basically the same, as they come from the same throats and lungs.

In contrast, traditional classical music starts from an abstract musical schema. This is then notated and only expressed in concrete sound as a last stage, when it is performed.

Noises have generally been thought of as indistinct, but this is not true.

Sooner barbarity than boredom.

It has been well said that tea is suggestive of a thousand wants, from which spring the decencies and luxuries of civilization.

When the writers themselves are a bit out of control, and their lives are collapsing around them, they seem to rejoice in misery and celebrate the wrong sort of things.