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

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

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.

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.

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

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

I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.