I must give you a piece of intelligence that you perhaps already know, namely that the ungodly arch-villain Voltaire has died miserably like a dog, just like a brute. That is his reward!

I write [music] as a sow piddles.

One must not make oneself cheap here - that is a cardinal point - or else one is done. Whoever is most impertinent has the best chance.

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

To every good friend I send my greet feet; addio nitwit. Love true true true until the grave, if I live that long and do behave.

I should like to know for what reason idleness is so popular with many young people that it is impossible to dissuade them from it either by words or by chastisements.

Melody is the essence of music. I compare a good melodist to a fine racer, and counterpoints to hack post-horses.