Ludwig van Beethoven Quotes

One must not hold one's self so divine as to be unwilling occasionally to make improvements in one's creations.

Beethoven can write music thank God - but he can do nothing else on earth.

I like your opera - I think I will set it to music

Whoever tells a lie is not pure of heart, and such a person can not cook a clean soup.

Applaud my friends, the comedy is over...[on his death bed]

Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est.(Applaud, my friends, the comedy is

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.

I shall seize fate by the throat.