I compose music because I must give expression to my feelings, just as I talk because I must give utterance to my thoughts.

A good conductor ought to be a good chauffeur the qualities that make the one also make the other. They are concentration, an incessant control of attention, and presence of mind the conductor only has to add a little sense of music.

What is Music? How do you define it? Music is a calm moonlit night, the rustle of leaves in Summer. Music is the far off peal of bells at dusk! Music comes straight from the heart and talks only to the heart: it is Love! Music is the Sister of Poetry and her Mother is sorrow!

The virtuosos look to the students of the world to do their share in the education of the great musical public. Do not waste your time with music that is trite or ignoble. Life is too short to spend it wandering in the barren Saharas of musical trash.

My dear hands. Farewell, my poor hands.