It seemed unthinkable for me to leave the world forever before I had produced all that I felt called upon to produce

There ought to be only one large art warehouse in the world, to which the artist could carry his art-works and from which he could carry away whatever he needed. As it is one must be half a tradesman.

This is the mark of a really admirable man: steadfastness in the face of trouble.

In the country It seems as if every tree Said to me 'Holy! Holy!' Who can ever express The ecstasy of the woods! Almighty One, In the woods I am blessed. Happy every one in the woods. Every tree speaks through Thee. O God! What glory in the woodland.

There are and always will be thousands of princes, but there is only one Beethoven!

The vibrations on the air are the breath of God speaking to man's soul. Music is the language of God. We musicians are as close to God as man can be. We hear his voice, we read his lips, we give birth to the children of God, who sing his praise. That's what musicians are.

Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.