203 Quotes by Ludwig van Beethoven

The true artist is not proud, he unfortunately sees that art has no limits; he feels darkly how far he is from the goal; and though he may be admired by others, he is sad not to have reached that point to which his better genius only appears as a distant, guiding sun. I would, perhaps, rather come to you and your people, than to many rich folk who display inward poverty.

I would rather write 10,000 notes than a single letter of the alphabet.

Such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life - only art it was that withheld me, and it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence.

Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est.(Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over.)[Said on his deathbed]

Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine.

Nothing is more intolerable than to have admit to yourself your own errors.

If once he has got the right fingering, plays in good time, with the notes fairly correct, then only pull him up about the rendering; and when he has arrived at that stage, don’t let him stop for the sake of small faults, but point them out to him when he has played the piece through. . . I have always adopted this plan; it soon forms musicians which, after all, is one of the first aims of art and it gives less trouble both to master and pupil.

Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy

I like your opera - I think I will set it to music