"If Germany, my beloved fatherland, of whom you know I am proud, will not accept me, then must I, in the name of God, again make France or England richer by one capable German; — and to the shame of th…"

"I only wish to serve my art."

"I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings."

"I am a composer and therefore I do not have to think about anything else."

"The most necessary thing is to know what is good."