She's only pretty in that she has two small black eyes and a good figure.

As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence . . .

What's even worse than a flute? - Two flutes!

My great grandfather used to say to his wife, my great-grandmother, who in turn told her daughter, my grandmother, who repeated it to her daughter, my mother, who used to remind her daughter, my own sister, that to talk well and eloquently was a very great art, but that an equally great one was to know the right moment to stop.

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

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.

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