I change many things, discard others, and try again and again until I am satisfied; then, in my head, I being to elaborate the work in its breadth, its narrowness, its height, its depth...I hear and see the image in front of me from every angle as if it had been cast and only the labour of writing it down remains.

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

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

I change many things, discard others, and try again and again until I am satisfied; then, in my head, I being to elaborate the work in its breadth, its narrowness, its height, its depth...I hear and see the image in front of me from every angle as if it had been cast and only the labour of writing it down remains.

There is no loftier mission than to approach the Divinity nearer than other men, and to disseminate the divine rays among mankind.

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

Everything should be at once surprising and inevitable.