I was for some time quite beside myself and could not believe that Providence could have required the presence of this indispensable man in the other world so soon.

When I think of my God, my heart dances within me for joy, and then my music has to dance, too.

Young people can learn from my example that something can come from nothing. What I have become is the result of my hard efforts.

Rules are my very humble, obedient servants.

Whenever I think of God I can only conceive of Him as a Being infinitely great and infinitely good. This last quality of the divine nature inspires me with such confidence and joy that I could have written even a miserere in tempo allegro.

It is the melody which is the charm of music, and it is that which is most difficult to produce. The invention of a fine melody is a work of genius.

There was no one near to confuse me, so I was forced to become original.