You ask me where I get my ideas. That I cannot tell you with certainty. They come unsummoned, directly, indirectly - I could seize them with my hands - out in the open air, in the woods, while walking, in the silence of the nights, at dawn, excited by moods which are translated by the poet into words, by me into tones that sound and roar and storm about me till I have set them down in notes.

I know of no more sacred duty than to rear and educate a child.

Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.

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.

We all make mistakes, but everyone makes different mistakes

I want to seize fate by the throat.

Music can change the world.