The Greeks put us to shame not only by their simplicity, which is foreign to our age; they are at the same time our rivals, nay, frequently our models, in those very points of superiority from which we seek comfort when regretting the unnatural character of our manners. We see that remarkable people uniting at once fullness of form and fullness of substance, both philosophising and creating, both tender and energetic, uniting a youthful fancy to the virility of reason in a glorious humanity.

While the womanly god demands our veneration, the godlike woman kindles our love; but while we allow ourselves to melt in the celestial loveliness, the celesti…

Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.

Man only plays when in the full meaning of the word he is a man, and he is only completely a man when he plays.

Respect the masterpiece. It is true reverence to man. There is no quality so great, none so much needed now.

Mozart's music represents neither the prolonged sigh of faith that characterizes so much of the music written before his time, nor the stormy idealism which cl…

Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.