Maurice Ravel Ravel Quotations

Why become a second-rate Ravel when you're already a first-rate Gershwin?

To George Gershwin, on refusinghim as a pupil: You would only lose the spontaneous quality of your melody, and end by writing bad Ravel.

You might lose your spontaneity and, instead of composing first-rate Gershwin, end up with second rate Ravel.