What I need is to believe in myself again — for my faith has been greatly undermined; it seems to me my role is over.

When Brahms is in extra good spirits, he sings, "The grave is my joy".

What I need is to believe in myself again — for my faith has been greatly undermined; it seems to me my role is over.

Even in the works of the greatest master, the organic sequence can fail and then a skillful join must be made.

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.

It is already a great thing if the main ideas and general outline of a work come without any racking of brains, as the result of that supernatural and inexplicable force we call inspiration.

Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.