Stupid criticism and still more stupid praise.

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.

It is better to invert reality than to copy it.

Oh, you happy sons of the North who have been reared at the bosom of Bach, how I envy you!

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.

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.

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