You know that I become quite powerless whenever I am obliged to write for an instrument which I cannot bear.

If only the whole world could feel the power of harmony.

Melody is the essence of music.

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.

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.

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

I too had to work hard, so as not to have to work hard any longer.