My Heart Pounds Sickeningly And I Turn

If, While At The Piano, You Attempt To Form Little Melodies, That Is Very Well; But If They Come Into Your Mind Of Themselves, When You Are Not Practising, You May Be Still More Pleased; For The Internal Organ Of Music Is Then Roused In You. The Fingers Must Do What The Head Desires; Not The Contrary.

I Sometimes Lack Confidence In Public, Although I Am Proud Enough Inwardly.

My Whole Life Has Been A Twenty Years Struggle Between Poetry And Prose, Or, If You Like To Call It So, Music And Law.

An Evil Fate Has Deprived Me Of The Full Use Of My Right Hand, So That I Am Not Able To Play My Compositions As I Feel Them. The Trouble With My Hand Is That Certain Fingers Have Become So Weak, Probably Through Writing And Playing Too Much At One Time, That I Can Hardly Use Them.

Let Your Intimate Friends Be Chosen From Such As Are Better Informed Than Yourself.