I order that my funeral ceremonies be extremely modest, and that they take place at dawn or at the evening Ave Maria, without song or music.

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.

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

Stupid criticism and still more stupid praise.

It is better to invert reality than to copy it.

I have striven for perfection, it has always eluded me, but I surely had an obligation to make one more try.

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.