Without enthusiasm nothing great can be effected in art.

It was an unforgettable picture to see Chopin sitting at the piano like a clairvoyant, lost in his dreams; to see how his vision communicated itself through his playing, and how, at the end of each piece, he had the sad habit of running one finger over the length of the plaintive keyboard, as though to tear himself forcibly away from his dream.

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

It is the curse of talent that, although it labors with greater steadiness and perseverance than genius, it does not reach its goal, while genius already on the summit of the ideal, gazes laughingly about.

"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.

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.