Ludwig van Beethoven
Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.Collection: Life
Music is the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend.Collection: Knowledge
Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.Collection: Food
Beethoven can write music, thank God, but he can do nothing else on earth.Collection: Music
Off with you! You're a happy fellow, for you'll give happiness and joy to many other people. There is nothing better or greater than that!Collection: Happiness
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.Collection: Sad
Art! Who comprehends her? With whom can one consult concerning this great goddess?Collection: Art
Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; art deserves that, for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine.Collection: Knowledge
I joyfully hasten to meet death. If it come before I have had opportunity to develop all my artistic faculties, it will come, my hard fate notwithstanding, too soon, and I should probably wish it later - yet even then I shall be happy, for will it not deliver me from a state of endless suffering?Collection: Death
Recommend virtue to your children; it alone, not money, can make them happy. I speak from experience.Collection: Money
Music is the wine which inspires one to new generative processes, and I am Bacchus who presses out this glorious wine for mankind and makes them spiritually drunken.Collection: Music
Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.Collection: Music
Tones sound, and roar and storm about me until I have set them down in notes.Collection: Music
There ought to be an artistic depot where the artist need only hand in his artwork in order to receive what he asks for. As things are, one must be half a business man, and how can one understand - good heavens! - that's what I really call troublesome.Collection: Business
O, you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly do you wrong me. You do not know the secret cause which makes me seem that way to you, and I would have ended my life - it was only my art that held me back. Ah, it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had brought forth all that I felt was within me.Collection: Art
This is the mark of a really admirable man: steadfastness in the face of trouble.Collection: Strength
Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.Collection: Music
I will seize fate by the throat; it shall certainly never wholly overcome me.
What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven.
Nothing is more intolerable than to have to admit to yourself your own errors.
I must confess that I lead a miserable life. For almost two years, I have ceased to attend any social functions, just because I find it impossible to say to people, 'I am deaf.' If I had any other profession, I might be able to cope with my infirmity; but in my profession, it is a terrible handicap.
Music comes to me more readily than words.
Friends applaud, the comedy is over.
Often, I can scarcely hear any one speaking to me; the tones yes, but not the actual words; yet as soon as any one shouts, it is unbearable. What will come of all this, heaven only knows!
I only live in my music, and I have scarcely begun one thing when I start on another. As I am now working, I am often engaged on three or four things at the same time.
A great poet is the most precious jewel of a nation.
The barriers are not erected which can say to aspiring talents and industry, 'Thus far and no farther.'
A true artist is expected to be all that is noble-minded, and this is not altogether a mistake; on the other hand, however, in what a mean way are critics allowed to pounce upon us.
When somewhat at a distance, I cannot hear the high tones of instruments, voices. In speaking, it is not surprising that there are people who have never noticed it, for as a rule I am absent-minded, and they account for it in that way.
Music from my fourth year began to be the first of my youthful occupations. Thus early acquainted with the gracious muse who tuned my soul to pure harmonies, I became fond of her, and, as it often seemed to me, she of me.
What I have in my heart and soul - must find a way out. That's the reason for music.Collection: Heart
I wish you music to help with the burdens of life ,and to help you release your happiness to others.Collection: Burdens Of Life
The vibrations on the air are the breath of God speaking to man's soul. Music is the language of God. We musicians are as close to God as man can be. We hear his voice, we read his lips, we give birth to the children of God, who sing his praise. That's what musicians are.Collection: Children
Life would be flat without music. It is the background to all I do. It speaks to the heart in its own special way like nothing else.Collection: Heart
Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.Collection: Music
Then let us all do what is right, strive with all our might toward the unattainable, develop as fully as we can the gifts God has given us, and never stop learningCollection: Unattainable
To play without passion is inexcusable!Collection: Music
An artist is someone who has learned to trust in himself.Collection: Life
Music can change the world.Collection: Music
Hide your secret even from the closest friend; learn to be silent.Collection: Secret
I have never thought of writing for reputation and honor. What I have in my heart must come out; that is the reason why I compose.Collection: Writing
We all make mistakes, but everyone makes different mistakesCollection: Mistake
Music is indeed the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.Collection: Music
We mortals with immortal minds are only born for sufferings and joys, and one could almost say that the most excellent receive joy through sufferings.Collection: Joy
Music is like a dream. One that I cannot hear.Collection: Dream
In whatsoever manner it be, let me turn to God and become fruitful in good works. Nothing higher exists than to approach God more than other people and from that to extend His glory among humanity.I will place all my confidence in your eternal goodness, O God! My soul shall rejoice in Thee, immutable Being. Be my rock, my light, forever my trust.Collection: Light
You ask me where I get my ideas. That I cannot tell you with certainty. They come unsummoned, directly, indirectly - I could seize them with my hands - out in the open air, in the woods, while walking, in the silence of the nights, at dawn, excited by moods which are translated by the poet into words, by me into tones that sound and roar and storm about me till I have set them down in notes.Collection: Night
Everything should be at once surprising and inevitable.Collection: Should
In the world of art, as in the whole of creation, freedom and progress are the main objectives.Collection: Art