Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Quotes

Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Stay with me to-night; you must see me die. I have long had the taste of death on my tongue, I smell death, and who will stand by my Constanze, if you do not stay?

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence, I have formed during the last few years such close relationships with this best and truest friend of mankind that death's image is not only no longer terrifying to me, but is indeed very soothing and consoling.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

All I insist on, and nothing else, is that you should show the whole world that you are not afraid. Be silent, if you choose; but when it is necessary, speak—and speak in such a way that people will remember it.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

To talk well and eloquently is a very great art, but that an equally great one is to know the right moment to stop.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with those people--and that music does not have a better reputation...For I assure you, without travel, at least for people from the arts and sciences, one is a miserable creature!...A man of mediocre talents always remains mediocre, may he travel or not--but a man of superior talents, which I cannot deny myself to have without being blasphemous, becomes--bad, if he always stays in the same place. If the archbishop would trust me, I would soon make his music famous; that is surely true.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

When I am ..... completely myself, entirely alone... or during the night when I cannot sleep, it is on such occasions that my ideas flow best and most abundantly. Whence and how these ideas come I know not nor can I force them.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Melody is the essence of music. I compare a good melodist to a fine racer, and counterpointists to hack post-horses; therefore be advised, let well alone and remember the old Italian proverb: Chi sa più, meno sa—Who knows most, knows least.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

If you would dance, my pretty Count, I'll play the tune on my little guitar..

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

You know that I immerse myself in music, so to speak— that I think about it all day long— that I like experimenting— studying— reflecting.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

I pay no attention whatever to anybody's praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

A man of ordinary talent will always be ordinary, whether he travels or not; but a man of superior talent will go to pieces if he remains forever in the same place.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

People err who think my art comes easily to me. I assure you, dear friend, nobody has devoted so much time and thought to compositions as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not industriously studied through many times.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

We live in this world in order always to learn industriously and to enlighten each other by means of discussion and to strive vigorously to promote the progress of science and the fine arts.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

When I am traveling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that ideas flow best and most abundantly.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

One must not make oneself cheap here - that is a cardinal point - or else one is done. Whoever is most impertinent has the best chance.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

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.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion.

~ 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.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

I know nothing new except that Herr Gellert, the Leipzig poet, is dead, and has written no more poetry since his death.

~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart