My fatherland has always the first claim on me.

Music is my life and my life is music.

Nevertheless the passions, whether violent or not, should never be so expressed as to reach the point of causing disgust; and music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.

I write [music] as a sow piddles.

I am never happier than when I have something to compose, for that, after all, is my sole delight and passion

An astonishing number of kisses are flying about! I see a whole crowd of them. Ha! Ha! I have just caught three - They are delicious... I kiss you millions of times.

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