Such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life – only art it was that withheld me, and it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven Quotes

If I contemplate myself as part of the Universe: what am I?

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Don’t regard yourself as too divine to improve, occasionally, your own works.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

The true artist is not proud, he unfortunately sees that art has no limits; he feels darkly how far he is from the goal; and though he may be admired by others, he is sad not to have reached that point to which his better genius only appears as a distant, guiding sun. I would, perhaps, rather come to you and your people, than to many rich folk who display inward poverty.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

I despise a world which does not feel that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

From the glow of enthusiasm I let the melody escape. I pursue it. Breathless I catch up with it. It flies again; it disappears; it plunges into a chaos of diverse emotions. I catch it again; I seize it; I embrace it with delight.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

You will not find a treatise that is too learned for me; without laying claim to any genuine learning, I yet accustomed myself from childhood onwards to grasp the spirit of the best and wisest in every age. Shame on the artist who does not consider it his duty to achieve at least so much.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

I only live in my music, and I have scarcely begun one thing when I start on another. As I am now working, I am often engaged on three or four things at the same time.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Is it not beautiful?

— Ludwig van Beethoven

The true artist has no pride. He sees unfortunately that art has no limits; he has a vague awareness of how far he is from reaching his goal; and while others may perhaps admire him, he laments the fact that he has not yet reached the point whither his better genius only lights the way for him like a distant sun.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

I joyfully hasten to meet death. If it come before I have had opportunity to develop all my artistic faculties, it will come, my hard fate notwithstanding, too soon, and I should probably wish it later – yet even then I shall be happy, for will it not deliver me from a state of endless suffering?

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Thousands of people cultivate music; but few have the revelation of this great art.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life – only art it was that withheld me, and it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

There ought to be an artistic depot where the artist need only hand in his artwork in order to receive what he asks for. As things are, one must be half a business man, and how can one understand – good heavens! – that’s what I really call troublesome.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Music from my fourth year began to be the first of my youthful occupations. Thus early acquainted with the gracious muse who tuned my soul to pure harmonies, I became fond of her, and, as it often seemed to me, she of me.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Whoever has created An abiding friendship, Or has won A true and loving wife, All who can call at least one soul theirs, Join in our song of praise; But any who cannot must creep tearfully Away from our circle.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

The only sign of “superiority” I acknowledge in Man is goodness.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

I’m sorry I can’t hear you.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Everything that is called life should be sacrificed to the sublime and be a sanctuary of art.

— Ludwig van Beethoven

Sacrifice once and for all the trivialities of social life to your art.

— Ludwig van Beethoven
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