You should neither play bad compositions, nor, unless compelled, listen to them.

Mendelssohn I consider the first musician of the day; I doff my hat to him as my superior. He plays with everything, especially with the grouping of the instruments in the orchestra, but with such ease, delicacy and art, with such mastery throughout.

When you play, do not trouble yourself as to who is listening. Yet always play as though a master listened to you.

The poet sees better than other mortals. I do not see things as they are, but according to my own subjective impression, and this makes life easier and simpler.

Perhaps only a Genius can truly understand Genius.

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

You should diligently play scales and fingerpractices. There are many, however, who believe they'll achieve all, by practicing daily on technique for hours on end, up till high age. It's like practicing every day to enumerate the alfabet faster and faster. One would think one could make better use of their valuable time.