Artists who have won fame are often embarrassed by it; thus their first works are often their best.

ever thine, ever mine, ever ours

Handel is the greatest composer that ever lived... I would uncover my head and kneel down on his tomb.

One must not hold one's self so divine as to be unwilling occasionally to make improvements in one's creations.

Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life. Although the spirit be not master of that which it creates through music, yet it is blessed in this creation, which, like every creation of art, is mightier than the artist.

What is to reach the heart must come from above; if it does not come from thence, it will be nothing but notes, body without spirit.

In praise of Thy goodness I must confess that Thou didst try with all Thy means to draw me to Thee. Sometimes it pleased Thee to let me feel the heavy hand of Thy displeasure and to humiliate my proud heart by manifold castigations. Sickness and misfortune didst Thou send upon me to turn my thoughts to my errantries.-One thing, only, O Father, do I ask: cease not to labor for my betterment. In whatsoever manner it be, let me turn to Thee and become fruitful in good works.