The language of tones belongs equally to all mankind, and melody is the absolute language in which the musician speaks to every heart.

Plant life instead of animal food is the keystone of regeneration. Jesus used bread instead of flesh and wine in place of blood at the Lord's Supper.

I know nothing at all about music.

The immoral profession of musical criticism must be abolished.

Those who grasp the whole, will also comprehend all parts of that whole, even when immediate technical understanding is lacking, and recognize and marshal these.

It is impossible to communicate with Schumann. The man is hopeless; he doesn't talk at all.

The oldest, truest, most beautiful organ of music, the origin to which alone our music owes its being, is the human voice.