Madam, you ask me how I compose. I compose sitting down. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky More Quotes by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky More Quotes From Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky A self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky artist self hands I feel I shall live a long time. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky long-time feels long Brahms stayed an extra day to hear my [Fifth] Symphony and was very kind ... I like his honesty and open-mindedness. Neither he nor the players liked the finale, which I also think rather horrible. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky honesty player thinking Even in the works of the greatest master, the organic sequence can fail and then a skillful join must be made. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky failing masters made Sometimes I observe with curiosity that uninterrupted activity which, independent of the subject of any conversation I may be carrying on, continues its course in that department of my brain that is devoted to music. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky independent curiosity brain Mozart is the musical Christ. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky musical christ It is already a great thing if the main ideas and general outline of a work come without any racking of brains, as the result of that supernatural and inexplicable force we call inspiration. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky inspiration brain ideas Handel is only fourth rate. He's not even interesting. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky handel rate interesting What I have set down in a moment of ardour I must then critically examine. Sometimes I must do myself violence before I can mercilessly erase things thought out with love. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky violence moments sometimes When Brahms is in extra good spirits, he sings, "The grave is my joy". Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky music spirit joy