Gustav Mahler Quotes

If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music.
Gustav Mahler

Music, Words, Trying

Quote

Don't bother looking at the view - I have already composed it.
Gustav Mahler

Looking, View, Bother

The point is not to take the world's opinion as a guiding star but to go one's way in life and working unerringly, neither depressed by failure nor seduced by applause.
Gustav Mahler

Life, Failure, Working

Fortunately, something always remains to be harvested. So let us not be idle.
Gustav Mahler

A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything.
Gustav Mahler

Symphony, Contain

An operetta is simply a small and gay opera.
Gustav Mahler

Gay, Small, Simply

I am hitting my head against the walls, but the walls are giving way.
Gustav Mahler

Giving, Against, Head

It's not just a question of conquering a summit previously unknown, but of tracing, step by step, a new pathway to it.
Gustav Mahler

Question, Step, Unknown

The real art of conducting consists in transitions.
Gustav Mahler

Music, Art, Real

If you think you're boring your audience, go slower not faster.
Gustav Mahler

Boring, Audience, Faster

In the theatrical works we love and admire the most, the ending of the drama generally takes place offstage.
Gustav Mahler

Love, Place, Takes

It is strange how one feels drawn forward without knowing at first where one is going.
Gustav Mahler

Forward, Strange, Knowing

Beauty and fullness of tone can be achieved by having the whole orchestra play with high clarinets and a carefully selected number of piccolos.
Gustav Mahler

Beauty, Play, Whole

I beg of you... never assume an inner or an outer pose, never a disguise.
Gustav Mahler

Assume, Inner, Disguise

I have become a different person. I don't know whether this person is better, he certainly is not happier.
Gustav Mahler

Person, Different, Become

I hope you will no longer accuse me of a lack of delicacy. as I now count on your understanding.
Gustav Mahler

Hope, Longer, Lack

I live like a Hottentot. I cannot exchange one sensible word with anyone.
Gustav Mahler

Live, Cannot, Word

I was a crazy young man who let himself be blinded by his passions and obeyed only the impulses of the moment.
Gustav Mahler

Crazy, Young, Moment

All that is not perfect down to the smallest detail is doomed to perish.
Gustav Mahler

Down, Perfect, Detail

Behind me the branches of a wasted and sterile existence are cracking.
Gustav Mahler

Behind, Existence, Wasted

Destiny smiles upon me but without making me the least bit happier.
Gustav Mahler

Destiny, Making, Bit

Discipline, work. Work, discipline.
Gustav Mahler

Work, Discipline

Even if people censure me, they should do so hat in hand.
Gustav Mahler

Hand, Hat, Censure

I don't let myself get carried away by my own ideas - I abandon 19 out of 20 of them every day.
Gustav Mahler

Away, Ideas, Abandon

If I weren't the way I am, I shouldn't write my symphonies.
Gustav Mahler

Write, Weren, Symphonies

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Biography

Nationality: Austrian

Born: July 7, 1860

Died: May 18, 1911

Links

Find on Amazon: Gustav Mahler

Cite this Page: Citation

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