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

You may have the universe if I may have Italy.

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

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.

I adore art...when I am alone with my notes, my heart pounds and the tears stream from my eyes, and my emotion and my joys are too much to bear.

It is better to invert reality than to copy it.