"Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius...." — Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what anyone tells them and do not choose to judge for themselves! But it is always so.

Nevertheless the passions, whether violent or not, should never be so expressed as to reach the point of causing disgust; and music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.

I live in a country where music has very little success, though, exclusive of those who have forsaken us, we have still admirable professors and, more particularly, composers of great solidity, knowledge, and taste.

I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness.