It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion.

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

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.

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

If people could see into my heart, I should almost feel ashamed - all there is cold, cold as ice.

I write [music] as a sow piddles.

It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion.