Genius resembles a bell; in order to ring it must be suspended into pure air, and when a foreign body touches it, its joyful toneis silenced.

Why do comparisons of words and tone poems (poetry and music) never take into consideration that the word is a mere signifier, but that the sound, aside from being a signifier, is also an object?

The verdict on Prince Metternich will soon be out: An excellent diplomat and a bad politician.

Progress will always have as its recourse to exaggerate what it cannot surpass.

I would love to be able to write a tragedy in my imagination--it would turn into a masterpiece.

People of talent resemble a musical instrument more closely than they do a musician. Without outside help, they produce not a single sound, but given even the slightest touch, and a magnificent tune emanates from them.

You can make the best of it and be content, or you can complain, it makes no difference. What does it matter that human beings judge the things that exist?