A man of ordinary talent will always be ordinary, whether he travels or not; but a man of superior talent (which I cannot deny myself to be without being impious) will go to pieces if he remains forever in the same place.

Music must never offend the ear, but must please the listener, or, in other words, must never cease to be music.

A bachelor, in my opinion, is only half alive.

I write [music] as a sow piddles.

The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.

When I am at peace with myself . . . then thoughts flow into me most easily and at their best. Where they come from and how - that I cannot say . . . I'd be willing to work forever and forever if I were permitted to write only such music as I want to write and can write - which I myself think good.

To my eyes and ears the organ will ever be the King of Instruments.