Mozart is the highest, the culminating point that beauty has attained in the sphere of music.

Handel is only fourth rate. He's not even interesting.

A self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood.

Sometimes I observe with curiosity that uninterrupted activity which, independent of the subject of any conversation I may be carrying on, continues its course in that department of my brain that is devoted to music.

Brahms stayed an extra day to hear my [Fifth] Symphony and was very kind ... I like his honesty and open-mindedness. Neither he nor the players liked the finale, which I also think rather horrible.

Madam, you ask me how I compose. I compose sitting down.

Where the heart does not enter; there can be no music.