Nothing is sillier than this charge of plagiarism. There is no sixth commandment in art. The poet dare help himself wherever he lists, wherever he finds material suited to his work. He may even appropriate entire columns with their carved capitals, if the temple he thus supports be a beautiful one. Goethe understood this very well, and so did Shakespeare before him.

Out of my great sorrows, I make little songs.

With his nightcaps and the tatters of his dressing-gown he patches up the gaps in the structure of the universe.

I bequeath all my property to my wife on the condition that she remarry immediately. Then there will be at least one man to regret my death.

Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.

I live, which is the main point.

Music is a strange thing. I would almost say it is a miracle.