“Do not be cross with the child; you cannot afford it. If you are cultivating a plant, developing it into something finer and nobler, you must love it, not hate it; be gentle with it, not abusive; be firm, never harsh. I give the plants upon which I am at work in a test, whether a single one or a hundred thousand, the best possible environment. So should it be with a child, if you want to develop it in right ways. Let the children have music, let them have pictures, let them have laughter, let them have a good time; not an idle time but one full of cheerful occupation. Surround them with all the beautiful things you can. Plants should be given sun and air and the blue sky; give them to your boys and girls. …for all the years. We cannot treat a plant tenderly one day and harshly the next; they cannot stand it. Remember that you are training not only for to-day, but for all the future, for all posterity.”

Source: Court Duel

Variant: Love who you love while you have them. That's all you can do. Let them go when you must. If you know how to love, you'll never run out.
Source: My Name Is Memory

The Independent (1997)

Quotes from Judge Judy cases, Being cocky

What Is A Jazz Composer? (1971)
Context: Let my children have music! Let them hear live music. Not noise. My children! You do what you want with your own!

Francis of Assisi, Rule of 1221, Rule 11 http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/wosf/wosf06.htm/ - That the Brothers ought not to speak or detract, but ought to love one another. <br class="br">Disputed, Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.

‘Truth’, Chapter I.
Friends in Council (First Series), (1847),

As quoted in a review of Langley Schools Music Project : Innocence and Despair (2001) http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/4685-innocence-and-despair/ by Dominique Leone (6 January 2002)

Source: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2005), p. 153