For the shallow delights of matrimony and opera I have no courage.

If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.

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.

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.

The only true immortality lies in one's children.

It is not hard to compose but it is wonderfully hard to let the superfluous notes fall under the table. . . So many melodies fly about, one must be careful not to tread on them.

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.