Ludwig van Beethoven Quotes

"Not "brook" [in German: Bach], but "sea" should he [Johann Sebastian Bach] be called because of his infinite, inexhaustible richness in tone combinations and harmonies.

(Nicht Bach! Meer sollte er heissen: wegen seines unendlichen, unerschoepflichen Reichtums an Tonkombinationen und Harmonien.)"

From the glow of enthusiasm I let the melody escape. I pursue it. Breathless I catch up with it. It flies again; it disappears; it plunges into a chaos of diverse emotions. I catch it again; I seize it; I embrace it with delight.

I despise a world which does not feel that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.

Ever thine, Ever mine, Ever ours :)

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

Only art and science can raise men to the level of gods.

The barriers are not erected which can say to [aspiring] talents and industry, “Thus far and no farther.

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.

You will not find a treatise that is too learned for me; without laying claim to any genuine learning, I yet accustomed myself from childhood onwards to grasp the spirit of the best and wisest in every age. Shame on the artist who does not consider it his duty to achieve at least so much.

إن الملوكَ والأمراءَ يستطيعون أن يخلقوا الأساتذة والوزراء وأن يمنحوا الرتبَ والألقاب، ولكنهم لا يخلقون العظماء ولا العقول التي تعلو على السواد .. فإذا التقى رجلٌ مثلي ورجلٌ مثل جوته، فخليقٌ بالمالكين وذوي السلطان أن يعرفوا موضعَ العظمة هناك

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.

„Не съществува друго качество за надмощие освен добротата.

Fürst! Was Sie sind, sind Sie durch Zufall und Geburt, was ich bin, bin ich durch mich. Fürsten hat es und wird es noch Tausende geben, Beethoven gibt es nur einen.

I'm sorry I can't hear you

The true artist has no pride. He sees unfortunately that art has no limits; he has a vague awareness of how far he is from reaching his goal; and while others may perhaps admire him, he laments the fact that he has not yet reached the point whither his better genius only lights the way for him like a distant sun.