If People Could See Into My Heart,

My Fatherland Has Always The First Claim On Me.

God Is Ever Before My Eyes. I Realize His Omnipotence And I Fear His Anger; But I Also Recognize His Compassion, And His Tenderness Towards His Creatures.

I Love It When An Aria Fits A Singer As Perfectly As A Suit Of Well-tailored Clothes.

When I Am At Peace With Myself . . . Then Thoughts Flow Into Me Most Easily And At Their Best. Where They Come From And How - That I Cannot Say . . . I'd Be Willing To Work Forever And Forever If I Were Permitted To Write Only Such Music As I Want To Write And Can Write - Which I Myself Think Good.

God First, Then Papa.