Quotes from Johannes Brahms

It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.

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.

Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.

Straightaway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God.

A symphony is no joke.

It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

The fact that most people do not understand and respect the very best things, such as Mozart's concertos, is what permits men like us to become famous.

Those who enjoy their own emotionally bad health and who habitually fill their own minds with the rank poisons of suspicion, jealousy and hatred, as a rule take umbrage at those who refuse to do likewise, and they find a perverted relief in trying to denigrate them.

To follow in Beethoven's footsteps transcends one's strength.

If there is anybody here I have not offended, I apologize.

Those who enjoy their own emotionally bad health and who habitually fill their own minds with the rank poisons of suspicion, jealousy and hatred, as a rule take umbrage at those who refuse to do likewise, and they find a perverted relief in trying to denigrate them.

Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.

One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.

Those are miracles that no merely human brain can work. The artist is merely the sound conduct of a Force that dictates to him what he should do.

We cling nervously to the melody, but we don't handle it freely, we don't really make anything new out of it, we merely overload it.

I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.

Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully.

If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.

For the shallow delights of matrimony and opera I have no courage.

If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.

Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.

The only true immortality lies in one's children. [ Letter to his friend, Richard Heuberger ]

Study Bach, there you will find everything.