The greatest misfortune of the wise man and the greatest unhappiness of the fool are based upon convention.

Our castle is not imposing, but is well built, and surrounded by a very fine garden. I live in the bailiff's house.

Nobody understands another's sorrow, and nobody another's joy.

You believe happiness to be derived from the place in which once you have been happy, but in truth it is centered in ourselves.

Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his wife.

It sometimes seems to me as if I do not belong to this world at all. I deplore music that engenders in people not love but madness: which rouses them to scornful laughter instead of lifting their thoughts to God.

Who can do anything after Beethoven?