Johannes Brahms Quotes

In my study I can lay my hand on the Bible in the pitch dark. All truly inspired ideas come from God. The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach and Beethoven drew their inspirations is the same power that enabled Jesus to do his miracles.

It is not hard to compose but it is wonderfully hard to let the superfluous notes fall under the table ... So many melodies fly about, one must be careful not to tread on them.

Reviewer: 'One of your themes was very similar to one of Beethoven's!' Brahms replied, 'Of course it is. Everyone steals - the important thing is to do it brilliantly.

It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.

For the shallow delights of matrimony and opera I have no courage.

We cling nervously to the melody, but we don't handle it freely, we don't really make anything new out of it, we merely overload it.

Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully.

The only true immortality lies in one's children.
[Letter to his friend, Richard Heuberger]

It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.

Never criticize the composition of a Royal Highness. You never know who may have written it.

Leave off driving your composers. It might prove to be as dangerous as it is generally unnecessary. After all, composing cannot be turned out like spinning or sewing. Some respected colleagues (Bach, Mozart, Schubert) have spoilt the world terribly. But if we can't imitate them in the beauty of their writing, we should certainly beware of seeking to match the speed of their writing. It would also be unjust to put all the blame on idleness alone. Many factors combine to make writing harder for us (my contemporaries), and especially me. If, incidentally, they would use us poets for some other purpose, they would see that we are thoroughly and naturally industrious dispositions ... I have no time: otherwise I should love to chat on the difficulty of composing and how irresponsible publishers are.

If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.

I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.

Those who enjoy their own emotionally bad health and who habitually fill their own minds with the rank poisons of suspicion, jealousy and hatred, as a rule take umbrage at those who refuse to do likewise, and they find a perverted relief in trying to denigrate them.

My things really are written with an appalling lack of practicality!

Study Bach. There you will find everything.

A symphony is no joke.

Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.

What would become of all historical biography if it was written only with consideration for other peoples' feelings?

To follow in Beethoven's footsteps transcends one's strength.