The majority of my symphonies are tombstones.

I always try to make myself as widely understood as possible; and if I don't succeed, I consider it my own fault.

I write music, it’s performed. After all, my music says it all. It doesn’t need historical and hysterical commentaries. In the long run, any words about music are less important than the music.

Our business is rejoicing, our business is rejoicing.

A creative artist works on his next composition because he was not satisfied with his previous one.

Music is good, not evil. Poetry is good, not evil. Primitive, but oh, so true!

Music is a means capable of expressing dark dramatism and pure rapture, suffering and ecstasy, fiery and cold fury, melancholy and wild merriment – and the subtlest nuances and interplay of these feelings which words are powerless to express and which are unattainable in painting and sculpture.