Beethoven didn’t talk a lot, so we can’t easily understand what’s going on in his head. In order to know that we will explore Beethoven quotes about music, life, love and some of the quotes said about Beethoven. And off course, the best way to know more about beethoven is to listen to his music.
Beethoven was a great musician from the classical era of western music. He developed the classical music a lot, and made a revolutionary changes in music, which contributed to the start of a new musical period – The Romantic Era.
And Similar to most of the great people in all human history, Ludwig Van Beethoven was definitely not an ordinary person. As described in the interesting movie Copying Beethoven (2006), Beethoven had a different point of view to life, especially that he was deaf for most of his career, and with his special music skills and understanding. The natural expected result, is a special mind with special thoughts and personality.
Now let’s look at Beethoven quotes.
Beethoven quotes about music and art
1- “Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.”
2- “Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine.”
3- “Music is the one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend.
4- “To play without passion is inexcusable!”
5- “I would rather write 10,000 notes than a single letter of the alphabet.”
6- “Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman.”
7- “Music is like a dream. One that I cannot hear.”
8- “Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.”
9- “The guitar is a miniature orchestra in itself.”
10- “To sing a wrong note is insignificant, but to sing without passion is unforgivable.”
11- “A great poet is the most precious jewel of a nation.”
12- “Rossini would have been a great composer if his teacher had spanked him enough on the backside.” Beethoven on Rossini.
13- He that divines the secret of my music is freed from the unhappiness that haunts the whole world of men.
Beethoven quotes about life
14- “Nothing is more intolerable than to have admit to yourself your own errors.”
15- “It seemed unthinkable for me to leave the world forever before I had produced all that I felt called upon to produce”
16- Beethoven speaking to royalty: “What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven.”
17- “There is nothing more beautiful than distributing happiness to many people.”
18- “True friendship can be based only on the union of similar ways of being”.
19- “Never break the silence if it is not to improve it.”
20- “Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est.
(Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over.)
[Said on his deathbed]”
21- “Never forget the days I spent with you. Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours.”
22- “Only the pure of heart can make a good soup.”
23- “Genius is composed of 2% talent and 98% persevering application.”
24- “There is no real intelligence without goodness.”
25- “Recommend to your children virtues, that alone can make them happy, not gold.”
Beethoven about love
26- “Love demands all, and has a right to all.”
27- “Never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.”
28- “I love a tree more than a man.”
Quotes about Beethoven
29- “Beethoven tells you what it’s like to be Beethoven and Mozart tells you what it’s like to be human. Bach tells you what it’s like to be the universe.” ― Douglas Adams
30- “Watch out for that boy. One day he will give the world something to talk about.” ―Mozart
31- Richard Wagner commenting on the music of Beethoven: He was a Titan, wrestling with the Gods.
Some funny stories about Beethoven
When Beethoven was challenged to an improvisation duel by one of his rivals named Steibelt, Beethoven took a piece of Steibelt’s music, turned it upside down, played it, then improvised on that theme for over an hour. Steibelt simply left halfway through.
listen to 10,000 Japanese performing Beethoven 9th (Ode to Joy).
