My heart is full of many things there are moments when I feel that speech is nothing after all. Ludwig van Beethoven More Quotes by Ludwig van Beethoven More Quotes From Ludwig van Beethoven But what a humiliation for me when someone standing next to me heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone standing next to me heard a shepherd singing and again I heard nothing. Such incidents drove me almost to despair; a little more of that and I would have ended my life - it was only my art that held me back. Ludwig van Beethoven distance loss art When I open my eyes I must sigh, for what I see is contrary to my religion, and I must despise the world which does not know that music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Ludwig van Beethoven eye philosophy thinking There is no loftier mission than to approach the Divinity nearer than other men, and to disseminate the divine rays among mankind. Ludwig van Beethoven divinity rays men Fate gave to man the courage of endurance. Ludwig van Beethoven perseverance fate men I change many things, discard others, and try again and again until I am satisfied; then, in my head, I being to elaborate the work in its breadth, its narrowness, its height, its depth...I hear and see the image in front of me from every angle as if it had been cast and only the labour of writing it down remains. Ludwig van Beethoven imagination writing trying She was such a good loving mother, my best friend. Oh, who was happier than I when I could still say the dear name "Mother," and it was heard, and whom can I say it to now? Ludwig van Beethoven mother names son He who understand my music will remain free from the miseries that the other men are dragging with them . Ludwig van Beethoven misery men Artists are fiery; they do not weep. Ludwig van Beethoven fiery artist art It is my belief one should not belittle the artist; while, however glorious his fame may seem, his time on Mount Olympus as an honourable guest of Zeus is short. It's a pity, but all too eager will the common folk drag him from this etherial heights to the low and trodden earth. Ludwig van Beethoven common-folk artist olympus Tones sound, and roar and storm about me until I have set them down in notes. Ludwig van Beethoven storm music sound Handel is the greatest composer that ever lived... I would uncover my head and kneel down on his tomb. Ludwig van Beethoven handel composer tombs The world is a king, and like a king, desires flattery in return for favor; but true art is selfish and perverse — it will not submit to the mold of flattery. Ludwig van Beethoven selfish kings art I carry my thoughts about me for a long time, often a very long time, before I write them down; meanwhile my memory is so faithful that I am sure never to forget, not even in years, a theme that has once occurred to me. Ludwig van Beethoven writing long thinking There is no greater pleasure for me than to practice and exhibit my art. Ludwig van Beethoven pleasure practice art One must not hold one's self so divine as to be unwilling occasionally to make improvements in one's creations. Ludwig van Beethoven creation improvement self Wherever you are, I am there also. Ludwig van Beethoven wherever-you-are remembrance love Don't regard yourself as too divine to improve, occasionally, your own works. Ludwig van Beethoven regard divine I shall seize fate by the throat. Ludwig van Beethoven throat fate destiny Let your deafness no longer be a secret - even in art. Ludwig van Beethoven deafness secret art Recommend virtue to your children, that alone - not wealth - can give happiness. It upholds in adversity and the thought of it and my art prevents me from putting an end to my life. Ludwig van Beethoven adversity children art