You're a happy fellow, for you'll give happiness and joy to many other people. There is nothing better or greater than that.

What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven.

Rossini would have been a great composer if his teacher had spanked him enough on his backside.

How glad I am to be able to roam in the wood and thicket, among trees and flowers and rocks ... in the country, every tree seems to speak to me, saying, "Holy! Holy", in the woods, there is enchantment which expresses all things.

We mortals with immortal minds are only born for sufferings and joys, and one could almost say that the most excellent receive joy through sufferings.

Beethoven can write music, thank God, but he can do nothing else on earth.

I would rather write 10,000 notes than a single letter of the alphabet.