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.

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.

ever thine, ever mine, ever ours

Music can change the world.

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

I have never thought of writing for reputation and honor. What I have in my heart must come out; that is the reason why I compose.

In the world of art, as in the whole of creation, freedom and progress are the main objectives.