Béla Bartók

My own idea, which I have followed throughout my life, is the brotherhood of peoples, brotherhood in spite of all wars and conflicts. I try to serve this idea in my music; therefore I do not restrict myself to any one nationality, but take themes from Slovak, Rumanian, Arabic and other sources.

The folk music of the various peoples is merely a different dialect of the same musical language.

The true value of folk music lies in its ability to provide a fresh impetus to the development of art music.

Originality is not a matter of avoiding influences, but of transforming them.

I am a composer who has spent his life in the study of folk music, and who has tried to incorporate its spirit into his own compositions.

The artist's mission is to create beauty, not to imitate it.

Music is a phenomenon of sound, and therefore it must be heard.

The most important thing in music is to express something.

I have never consciously tried to be modern. I have simply tried to be myself.

The composer's task is to organize sounds in such a way that they become meaningful.

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

The artist must be a master of his craft, but he must also have something to say.

I am not interested in writing music that is merely pleasant. I want to write music that is alive.

The greatest art is that which is both universal and personal.

Music is a language that transcends all barriers.

The creative process is a mysterious one. It is a combination of inspiration and hard work.

I believe that music has the power to heal and to unite.

The most important thing for a composer is to have a strong inner voice.

I have always tried to learn from the past, but not to be bound by it.

The beauty of music lies in its ability to evoke emotions.