You will be most readily cured of vanity or presumption by studying the history of music, and by hearing the master pieces which have been produced at different periods.

Only when the form grows clear to you, will the spirit become so too.

I was a God-fearing child, innocent and physically attractive.

"We liked it" or "I didn't like it" people say. As if it were nothing higher than to please the people!

You write to become immortal, or because the piano happens to be open, or you've looked into a pair of beautiful eyes.

Music induces nightingales to sing, pug dogs to yelp.

Think it a vile habit to alter works of good composers, to omit parts of them, or to insert new-fashioned ornaments. This is the greatest insult you can offer to Art.