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.

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

Those are miracles that no merely human brain can work. The artist is merely the sound conduct of a Force that dictates to him what he should do.

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.

Study Bach. There you will find everything.

Never criticize the composition of a Royal Highness. You never know who may have written it.

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.