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.

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.

Nothing right can be accomplished in art without enthusiasm.

That first concept is alway the most naturally and best. The mind errs, the emotion never.

My indifference to money and my spendthrift ways are disgraceful. You have no idea how reckless I am; how often I practically throw money out of the window. I am always making good resolutions, but the next minute I forget and give the waiter eightpence.

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

Perhaps only a Genius can truly understand Genius.