Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.
If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.
The only true immortality lies in one’s children.
The idea comes to me from outside of me – and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own – that is where the skill lies.
Study Bach. There you will find everything.
One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.
How lucky is the man who, like Mozart and others, goes to the tavern of an evening and writes some fresh music. For he lives while he is creating.
In my study I can lay my hand on the Bible in the pitch dark. All truly inspired ideas come from God. The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach and Beethoven drew their inspirations is the same power that enabled Jesus to do his miracles.
Ah, that tastes nice. Thank you.
It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.
My things really are written with an appalling lack of practicality!
To follow in Beethoven’s footsteps transcends one’s strength.
In him converge all previous streams of tendency, not as into a pool, stagnant, passive, motionless, but as a noble river that received its tributary waters and bearss them onward in larger and statelier volume.
Straightaway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God.
If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.
I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.
Those are miracles that no merely human brain can work. The artist is merely the sound conduct of a Force that dictates to him what he should do.
The fact that most people do not understand and respect the very best things, such as Mozart’s concertos, is what permits men like us to become famous.
Never criticize the composition of a Royal Highness. You never know who may have written it.
For the shallow delights of matrimony and opera I have no courage.