In my study I can lay my hand on the Bible in the pitch dark. All truly inspired ideas come from God. The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach and Beethoven drew their inspirations is the same power that enabled Jesus to do his miracles.

Those who enjoy their own emotionally bad health and who habitually fill their own minds with the rank poisons of suspicion, jealousy and hatred, as a rule take umbrage at those who refuse to do likewise, and they find a perverted relief in trying to denigrate them.

We cling nervously to the melody, but we don't handle it freely, we don't really make anything new out of it, we merely overload it.

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

Study Bach. There you will find everything.

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

If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.