The only true immortality lies in one's children. [<i>Letter to his friend, Richard Heuberger</i>] - Johannes Brahms

It always saddens me to think that after all I am not yet a proper musician; but I have more aptitude for the calling than probably many of the younger generation have as a rule. It gets knocked out of you. Boys should be allowed to indulge themselves in jolly music; the serious kind comes of its own accord, although the lovesick does not. How lucky is the man who, like Mozart and others, goes to the tavern of an evening and writes some fresh music. For he lives while he is creating.

Study Bach, there you will find everything.

If there is any one here tonight whom I have not offended, I apologize!