To Be A Great Composer Requires Immense

To Be A Great Composer Requires Immense Experience... One Acquires This By Listening Not Only To Other Men's Work, But Above All To One's Own!

I Am Not Fitted To Give Concerts. The Audience Intimidates Me, I Feel Choked By Its Breath, Paralyzed By Its Curious Glances, Struck Dumb By All Those Strange Faces.

When One Does A Thing, It Appears Good, Otherwise One Would Not Write It. Only Later Comes Reflection, And One Discards Or Accepts The Thing. Time Is The Best Censor, And Patience A Most Excellent Teacher.

Bach Is Like An Astronomer Who, With The Help Of Ciphers, Finds The Most Wonderful Stars.

If I Were Still Stupider Than I Am, I Should Think Myself At The Apex Of My Career; Yet I Know How Much I Still Lack, To Reach Perfection; I See It The More Clearly Now That I Live Only Among First-rank Artists And Know What Each One Of Them Lacks.