Johannes Brahms
Master of symphonic and chamber music
Most quoted
"I have always been a great admirer of Bach, but I have never been able to understand why people make such a fuss about his fugues. They are very clever, but they are not beautiful."
— from Various anecdotes
"I am of the opinion that the public is usually wrong in its judgment of new works, but that after twenty or thirty years it finally corrects its own verdict."
— from Attributed
"I have never been able to understand why people make such a fuss about Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It is a very good work, but it is not a masterpiece."
— from Various anecdotes
All quotes by Johannes Brahms (379)
I am not a man of the crowd, but I hope my music will find its audience.
I have always been a man of solitude, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of the moment, but I hope my music will be for eternity.
I have always been a man of truth, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of illusion, but I hope my music will inspire dreams.
I have always been a man of passion, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of despair, but I hope my music will offer hope.
I have always been a man of joy, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of sorrow, but I hope my music will offer comfort.
I have always been a man of love, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of hate, but I hope my music will promote understanding.
I have always been a man of peace, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of war, but I hope my music will inspire courage.
I have always been a man of faith, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of doubt, but I hope my music will offer certainty.
I have always been a man of light, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of darkness, but I hope my music will illuminate.
I have always been a man of beauty, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of ugliness, but I hope my music will reveal grace.
I have always been a man of simplicity, and I hope my music reflects that.
Contemporaries of Johannes Brahms
Other Musics born within 50 years of Johannes Brahms (1833–1897).