Top 78 Quotes & Sayings by Richard Wagner - Page 2

Blessed be, the genius who never knew good fortune! Genius in itself already means so much; what meaning does luck still hold for him?

From its first faint glimmerings, History shews Man's constant progress as a beast of prey. As such he conquers every land, subdues the fruit-fed races, founds mighty realms by subjugating other subjugators, forms states and sets up civilisations, to enjoy his prey at rest.

I am writing Parsifal only for my wife - if I had to depend on the German spirit, I should have nothing more to say.

I know nothing at all about music.

Any so-called stimulus program is a ruse. The government can increase its spending only by reducing private spending equivalently.

What a wonderful work Wagner has done for humanity in translating the toil of life into the readable script of music! For those who seek the tale of other worlds his magic is silent; but earth-travail under his wand becomes instinct with rhythmic song to an accompaniment of the elements, and the blare and crash of the bottomless pit itself.

Plant life instead of animal food is the keystone of regeneration. Jesus used bread instead of flesh and wine in place of blood at the Lord's Supper.

Music truely has to all other arts the same relation as religion to the church.

The immoral profession of musical criticism must be abolished.

It is impossible to communicate with Schumann. The man is hopeless; he doesn't talk at all.

Certain things in Mozart will and can never be excelled.

Whatever my passions demand of me, I become for the time being - musician, poet, director, author, lecturer or anything else.

True drama can be conceived only as resulting from the collective impulse of all the arts to communicate in the most immediate way with a collective public... Thus especially the art of tone, developed with such singular diversity in instrumental music, will realize in the collective artwork its richest potential -- will indeed incite the pantomimic art of dancing in turn to wholly new discoveries and inspire the breath of poetry no less to an undreamed-of fullness. For in its isolation music has formed itself an organ capable of the most immeasurable expression - the orchestra.

The most tremendous genius raised Mozart above all masters, in all centuries and in all the arts.

I believe in God, Mozart, and Beethoven.

The error in the art-genre of Opera consists herein: a Means of expression (Music) has been made the end, while the End of expression (the Drama) has been made a means.

The long-term vision is to replace, repair and regenerate failing tissues and organs with the materials of tissues and organs. It's still 'out there,' but it's possible to put together a grant proposal now that doesn't sound completely crazy.

You know my faithfulness to you, never can another own my heart, never - never - never...