Write to me and don't be so lazy. Otherwise I shall have to give you a thrashing. What fun! I'll break your head.

Our riches, being in our brains, die with us... Unless of course someone chops off our head, in which case, we won't need them anyway.

I am not thoughtless but am prepared for anything and as a result can wait patiently for whatever the future holds in store, and I'll be able to endure it.

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

Melody is the essence of music.

My fatherland has always the first claim on me.

Creativity is the firing of my soul.