Believe me, my sole purpose is to make as much money as possible; for after good health it is the best thing to have.

True perfection in all things is no longer known or prized - you must write music that is either so simple a coachman could sing it, or so unintelligble that audiences like it simply because no sane person could understand it.

People err who think my art comes easily to me. I assure you, dear friend, nobody has devoted so much time and thought to compositions as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not industriously studied through many times.

I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.

To win applause one must write stuff so simple that a coachman might sing it.

The taste of death is upon my lips. I feel something that is not of this earth.

Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.