Music is truly love itself, the purest, most ethereal language of the emotions, embodying all their changing colors in every variety of shading and nuance.

An artist's sphere of influence is the world.

The art of music, rather more daughter than imitator of nature, in her impressive and mysterious language minding and educating us, rouses directly our temper and rules us to the depths of our souls.

No fate holds more splendour for an artist, than the one which greets his effort with such enthousiasm!

The hardest thing is to endure the applause of fools, and patiently suffer the booing, while with the bravissimo of the foolish one would rather strike them between the ears.

The world around you know only that reflects on you, that is the success of a joker too.

Femininity appears to be one of those pivotal qualities that is so important no one can define it.

Freedom is never given it is won.

He that studies only men will get the body of knowledge without the soul; and he that studies only books, the soul without the body.

If you're defending a lie, you can only defend it with obfuscations and other lies. You can't defend a lie with the truth.

I thought I might teach philosophy but the atmosphere of a college faculty repelled me; the few islands of greatness seemed to be washed by seas of pettiness and mediocrity.

His fine wit Makes such a wound, the knife is lost in it.

Myrnin, drive carefully. Understand?" "Of course." He didn't.

My wife and children are the greatest force that keeps me sober and strong.

I don't believe in a God. I don't believe in any of that stuff to determine my life or my goals or my direction. I just depend on myself.