To be a great composer requires immense experience... One acquires this by listening not only to other men's work, but above all to one's own! Frederic Chopin More Quotes by Frederic Chopin More Quotes From Frederic Chopin The three most celebrated doctors on the island have been to see me. One sniffed at what I spat, the second tapped where I spat from, and the third sounded me and listened as I spat. The first said I was dead, the second that I was dying and the third that I'm going to die. Frederic Chopin health islands death When one does a thing, it appears good, otherwise one would not write it. Only later comes reflection, and one discards or accepts the thing. Time is the best censor, and patience a most excellent teacher. Frederic Chopin teacher philosophy life I'm a revolutionary, money means nothing to me. Frederic Chopin music money life England is so surrounded by the boredom of conventionalities, that it is all one to them whether music is good or bad, since they have to hear it from morning till night. For here they have flower-shows with music, dinners with music, sales with music. Frederic Chopin flower morning night It's a huge Carthusian monastery, stuck down between rocks and sea, where you may imagine me, without white gloves or hair curling, as pale as ever, in a cell with such doors as Paris never had for gates. The cell is the shape of a tall coffin, with an enormous dusty vaulting, a small window... Bach, my scrawls and waste paper - silence - you could scream - there would still be silence. Indeed, I write to you from a strange place. Frederic Chopin paris white writing All the same it is being said everywhere that I played too softly, or rather, too delicately for people used to the piano-pounding of the artists here. Frederic Chopin piano artist people They want me to give another concert but I have no desire to do so. You cannot imagine what a torture the three days before a public appearance are to me. Frederic Chopin desire giving people I really don't know whether any place contains more pianists than Paris, or whether you can find more asses and virtuosos anywhere. Frederic Chopin ass paris musical My piano has not yet arrived. How did you send it? By Marseilles or by Perpignan? I dream music but I cannot make any because here there are not any pianos . . . in this respect this is a savage country. Frederic Chopin piano dream country Yesterday's concert was a success. I hasten to let you know. I inform your Lordship that I was not a bit nervous and played as I play when I am alone. It went well... and I had to come back and bow four times. Frederic Chopin yesterday play people My manuscripts sleep, while I cannot, for I am covered with poultices. Frederic Chopin health sleep death Having nothing to do, I am correcting the Paris edition of Bach; not only the engraver's mistakes, but also the mistakes hallowed by those who are supposed to understand Bach (I have no pretensions to understand better, but I do think that sometimes I can guess). Frederic Chopin mistake philosophy life As long as I have health and strength, I will gladly work all my days. Frederic Chopin health-and-strength long Hats off, gentlemen - a genius! If the mighty autocrat of the north knew what a dangerous enemy threatened him in Chopin's works in the simple tunes of his mazurkas, he would forbid this music. Chopin's works are canons buried in flowers. Frederic Chopin flower simple enemy Oh, how hard it must be to die anywhere but in ones birthplace. Frederic Chopin birthplace hard dies Bach is like an astronomer who, with the help of ciphers, finds the most wonderful stars. Frederic Chopin ciphers stars helping You already know when I'm writing, so don't be surprised if it's short and dry, because I'm too hungry to write anything fat Frederic Chopin hungry dry writing I feel like a novice, just as I felt before I knew anything of the keyboard. It is far too original, and I shall end up not being able to learn it myself. Frederic Chopin novices philosophy life Vienna is a handsome, lively city, and pleases me exceedingly. Frederic Chopin please-me vienna cities I don't know where there can be so many pianists as in Paris, so many asses and so many virtuosi. Frederic Chopin ass paris people
