To follow in Beethoven's footsteps transcends one's strength.
Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought.
Most people, in fact, will not take the trouble in finding out the truth, but are much more inclined to accept the first story they hear.
He passes through life most securely who has least reason to reproach himself with complaisance toward his enemies.
Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris
Indeed men too often take upon themselves in the prosecution of their revenge to set the example of doing away with those general laws to which all can look for salvation in adversity, instead of allowing them to subsist against the day of danger when their aid may be required
Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.
If the crowns of all the kingdoms of the empire were laid down at my feet in exchange for my books and my love of reading I would spurn them all.
To me, making a tape is like writing a letter – there's a lot of erasing and rethinking and starting again, and I wanted it to be a good one.
Every relationship has a hard part at the beginning. This is our hard part. It's not like a puzzle piece where there's an instant fit. With relationships, you have to shape the pieces on each end before they go perfectly together.
All of my policy is not based on a label. It's based on what I lived and what I know.