"Actually, most things I say in public lead more or less directly to my own compositional practice, so I should be careful about generalizing lest they come back to haunt me"

This quote by Brian Ferneyhough recommends that he understands the potential repercussions of making generalizations in public. He is implying that his words might be utilized against him in the future, as they might be analyzed as a reflection of his own compositional practice. This recommends that Ferneyhough is conscious of the truth that his words might be utilized to judge his own work, and he is therefore mindful about making generalizations in public. This quote likewise indicates that Ferneyhough is aware of the power of words, and that he is conscious of the prospective ramifications of his words. He knows that his words might be used to form his own compositional practice, and he is therefore careful about what he says in public. This quote shows Ferneyhough's understanding of the power of words, and his awareness of the potential consequences of making generalizations in public.