How lucky is the man who, like Mozart and others, goes to the tavern of an evening and writes some fresh music. For he lives while he is creating.

Study Bach. There you will find everything.

What would become of all historical biography if it was written only with consideration for other peoples' feelings?

In him converge all previous streams of tendency, not as into a pool, stagnant, passive, motionless, but as a noble river that received its tributary waters and bearss them onward in larger and statelier volume.

One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.

The fact that most people do not understand and respect the very best things, such as Mozart's concertos, is what permits men like us to become famous.

It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.