"I am not a man who can be easily intimidated."

"I have no patience with people who are always complaining."

"I am not afraid of death, for I know that I will live on in my music."

"When I am traveling, I cannot look at the sky or the trees or anything that is beautiful, for I am thinking of nothing but my music."

"What annoys me most is that these stupid Frenchmen think I am still just seven years old - because that was my age when they first saw me - (...) they treat me here like a beginner - except the musici…"