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

Quote by Gustav Mahler

Topics: Gustav Mahler Quotes

You must renounce all superficiality, all convention, all vanity and delusion.

You must renounce all superficiality, all convention, all vanity and delusion.

To judge a composer's work, one must consider it as a whole.

To judge a composer's work, one must consider it as a whole.

There is a world of difference between a Mahler eighth note and a normal eighth...

There is a world of difference between a Mahler eighth note and a normal eighth...

Melodic invention is one of the surest signs of a divine gift.

Melodic invention is one of the surest signs of a divine gift.

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

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

I was a crazy young man who let himself be blinded by his passions and...

I was a crazy young man who let himself be blinded by his passions and...

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

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

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

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

With the coming of spring, I am calm again.

With the coming of spring, I am calm again.

An operetta is simply a small and gay opera.

An operetta is simply a small and gay opera.

The real art of conducting consists in transitions.

The real art of conducting consists in transitions.

I don't let myself get carried away by my own ideas - I abandon 19...

I don't let myself get carried away by my own ideas - I abandon 19...

The longer you live and the more you learn, the more clearly you will feel...

The longer you live and the more you learn, the more clearly you will feel...

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

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

It should be one's sole endeavor to see everything afresh and create it anew.

It should be one's sole endeavor to see everything afresh and create it anew.

I have become a different person. I don't know whether this person is better, he...

I have become a different person. I don't know whether this person is better, he...

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

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

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

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

In its beginnings, music was merely chamber music, meant to be listened to in a...

In its beginnings, music was merely chamber music, meant to be listened to in a...

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

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