Quotes from Ludwig van Beethoven

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

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 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.

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.

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

I joyfully hasten to meet death. If it come before I have had opportunity to develop all my artistic faculties, it will come, my hard fate notwithstanding, too soon, and I should probably wish it later - yet even then I shall be happy, for will it not deliver me from a state of endless suffering?

was schwer ist, ist auch schön, gut, groß etc, jeder Mensch sieht also ein, daß dieses das fetteste Lob ist, was man geben kann, denn das schwere macht schwizen (sic)" "what is difficult is also beautiful, good, great, etc, therefore every person understands that this is the greatest praise that one can give, because the difficult makes one sweat

schon im Bette drängen sich die Ideen zu dir meine Unsterbliche Geliebte, hier und da freudig, dann wieder traurig. Vom Schicksaale abwartend, ob es unß erhört...

Such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life - only art it was that withheld me, and it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence.

Music is the wine which inspires one to new generative processes, and I am Bacchus who presses out this glorious wine for mankind and makes them spiritually drunken.

There ought to be an artistic depot where the artist need only hand in his artwork in order to receive what he asks for. As things are, one must be half a business man, and how can one understand - good heavens! - that's what I really call troublesome.

Music from my fourth year began to be the first of my youthful occupations. Thus early acquainted with the gracious muse who tuned my soul to pure harmonies, I became fond of her, and, as it often seemed to me, she of me.

Whoever has created An abiding friendship, Or has won A true and loving wife, All who can call at least one soul theirs, Join in our song of praise; But any who cannot must creep tearfully Away from our circle.

Everything that is called life should be sacrificed to the sublime and be a sanctuary of art

Sacrifice once and for all the trivialities of social life to your art.

The only sign of "superiority" I acknowledge in Man is goodness.

Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours." —LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, the Immortal Beloved Letters

Dem Manne muß die Musik Feuer aus dem Geist schlagen.

To make a mistake is insignificant. To play without passion is inexcusable.

Deine Liebe macht mich zum glücklichsten und zum unglücklichsten zugleich.

Wenn ich mich im Zusammenhang des Universums betrachte, was bin ich?

Is it not beautiful?