How absurd these critics must seem to me, who in their modern wantonness have become so ingenious. They want to interpret my Tannhauser as specifically Christian and impute to him a tendency to impotent glorification! Richard Wagner More Quotes by Richard Wagner More Quotes From Richard Wagner Music is the inarticulate speech of the heart, which cannot be compressed into words, because it is infinite. Richard Wagner speechheartthinking I regard the Jewish race as the born enemy of pure humanity and everything that is noble in it. Richard Wagner racehumanityenemy Joy is not in things; it is in us. Richard Wagner positivehappinessinspirational The purpose of art: to make the unconscious conscious. Richard Wagner consciouspurposeart I believe in God, Mozart and Beethoven, and likewise their disciples and apostles; - I believe in the Holy Spirit and the truth of the one, indivisible Art; - I believe that this Art proceeds from God, and lives within the hearts of all illumined men. Richard Wagner truthbelieveart Imagination creates reality. Richard Wagner inspirationinspiringreality The only form of music is melody, without melody music is not feasible, and music and melody are quite inseparable. Richard Wagner inseparablemusic-isform We must learn to die, and to die in the fullest sense of the word. The fear of the end is the source of all lovelessness Richard Wagner diessourceends It is necessary for us to explain the involuntary repugnance we possess for the nature and personality of the Jews. The Jews have never produced a true poet. Heinrich Heine reached the point where he duped himself into a poet, and was rewarded by his versified lies being set to music by our own composers. He was the conscience of Judaism, just as Judaism is the evil conscience of our modern civilization. Richard Wagner evilcivilizationlying It is a truth forever, that where the speech of man stops short there Music's reign begins. Richard Wagner speechforevermen Human dignity begins to assert itself only at the point where man is distinguishable from the beast by pity for it. Richard Wagner compassionanimalmen The language of tones belongs equally to all mankind, and melody is the absolute language in which the musician speaks to every heart. Richard Wagner tonemusicianheart A political man is disgusting, but a political wife, horrible. Richard Wagner wifepoliticalmen I am convinced that there are universal currents of Divine Thought vibrating the ether everywhere and that any who can feel these vibrations is inspired. Richard Wagner inspiredvibrationsdivine I write music with an exclamation point! Richard Wagner exclamation-pointsmusicwriting What Music expresses is eternal, infinite, and ideal; she expresses not the passion, love, desire, of this or that individual in this or that condition, but Passion, Love, Desire itself, and in such infinitely varied phases as lie in her unique possession and are foreign and unknown to any other tongue...So...Here's to Victory, gained by our higher sense over the worthlessness of the vulgar! To Love, which crowns our courage...To the day, to the night!...And three cheers for Music. Richard Wagner musiccheerlying ...music is the living God in our bosoms. Richard Wagner contemplationmusic-isinspiration My destiny is solitude, and my life is work. Richard Wagner destinysolitudework The essence of higher instrumental music lays herein that one is able to express in tones that what one is unable to say in words. Richard Wagner toneableessence I hate this fast growing tendency to chain men to machines in big factories and deprive them of all joy in their efforts - the plan will lead to cheap men and cheap products. Richard Wagner efforthatemen
