Musical ideas sprang to my mind like a flight of butterflies, and all I had to do was to stretch out my hand to catch them

If all the music written since Bach's time should be lost, it could be reconstructed on the foundation which Bach laid.

Before Mozart, all ambition turns to despair.

Mozart, prodigal heaven gave thee everything, grace and strength, abundance and moderation, perfect equilibrium.

My opinion changes rapidly - one minute I can think it is very good and the next time I look at it, I see all the flaws and weaknesses therein.

Who has reached the extreme limits of scale with the same infallible precision, equally guarded against the false refinement of artificial elegance and the roughness of spurious force? Who has better known how to breathe anguish and dread into the purest and most exquisite forms?

Musical ideas sprang to my mind like a flight of butterflies, and all I had to do was to stretch out my hand to catch them