Oh blessed a thousand times the peasant who is born, eats and dies without anybody bothering about his affairs.

I deny that either singers or conductors can "create" or work creatively - this, as I have always said, is a conception that leads to the abyss.

The success of our operas rests most of the time in the hands of the conductor. This person is as necessary as a tenor or a prima donna.

The artist must yield himself to his own inspiration... I should compose with utter confidence a subject that set my musical blood going, even though it were condemned by all other artists as anti-musical.

The artist must yield himself to his own inspiraton, and if he has a true talent, no one knows and feels better than he what suits him.

It may be a good thing to copy reality; but to invent reality is much, much better.

To copy the truth can be a good thing, but to invent the truth is better, much better.