True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.

I call on the Iranian people: it is not too late to replace the corrupt regime and return to your glorious Persian heritage a heritage of culture and values and not of bombs and missiles... How can a nation allow a regime to instill fear take away the people's freedom and shock the young generation that seeks its way out of the dictatorial Iran.

Dictators and oppressors should continue to fear me because I will be here for a long time.

On the other hand when I give it closer thought I realize I'm not enough of a dictator to conduct an orchestra because it requires a pretty awful person. When you read these biographies of famous conductors they are all awful people who fail in their private relationships.

The best weapon of a dictatorship is secrecy but the best weapon of a democracy should be the weapon of openness.

It has been claimed at times that our modern age of technology facilitates dictatorship.