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Life, Legacy, and 100 Genius Wolfgang Mozart Quotes

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is an iconic figure in the world of classical music. Widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in history, his music continues to be celebrated and enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds. Mozart was a prodigious talent, composing his first piece at age five and creating a vast body of work that included operas, symphonies, chamber music, and more.

Mozart’s genius is not limited to his musical accomplishments, however. He was also a prolific writer and thinker; his letters and writings offer insight into his philosophy of life and art. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of the 100 most genius quotes by Mozart, exploring his life and work to uncover the wisdom and insight that made him such an enduring figure in music and beyond.

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Whether you’re a musician, a writer, or simply someone looking for insight and inspiration, there is sure to be a Mozart quote that speaks to you.

100 Genius Wolfgang Mozart Quotes

Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.

The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.

If only the whole world could feel the power of harmony.

All I insist on, and nothing else, is that you should show the whole world that you are not afraid. Be silent, if you choose; but when it is necessary, speak and speak in such a way that people will remember it.

I pay no attention whatever to anybody’s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.

We shall go on doing till we can do something worth doing; but I am one of those who will go on doing till all doing are at an end.

To talk well and eloquently is a very great art, but that an equally great one is to know the right moment to stop.

I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness.

I choose such notes that love one another.

I am one of those who will go on doing till all doings are at an end.

It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied.

Silence is very important. The silence between the notes are as important as the notes themselves.

Music, in even the most terrible situations, must never offend the ear but always remain a source of pleasure.

The best way to learn is through the powerful force of rhythm.

I am not thoughtless but am prepared for anything and as a result can wait patiently for whatever the future holds in store, and I’ll be able to endure it.

If you would dance, my pretty Count, I’ll play the tune on my little guitar.

I cannot write poetically, for I am no poet. I cannot make fine artistic phrases that cast light and shadow, for I am no painter. I can neither by signs nor by pantomime express my thoughts and feelings, for I am no dancer; but I can by tones, for I am a musician.

The passions, whether violent or not, should never be so expressed as to reach the point of causing disgust; and music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.

I thank my God for graciously granting me the opportunity of learning that death is the key which unlocks the door to our true happiness.

Stay with me tonight; you must see me die. I have long had the taste of death on my tongue, I smell death, and who will stand by my Constanze, if you do not stay?

Music, in even the most terrible situations, must never offend the ear but always remain a source of pleasure.

I cannot write in verse, for I am no poet. I cannot arrange the parts of speech with such art as to produce effects of light and shade, for I am no painter. Even by signs and gestures I cannot express my thoughts and feelings, for I am no dancer. But I can do so by means of sounds, for I am a musician.

Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.

They probably think because I am so small and young, nothing of greatness and class can come out of me; but they shall soon find out.

What’s even worse than a flute? Two flutes!

I am one of those who will go on doing till all doings are at an end.

This world of music, whose borders even now I have scarcely entered, is a reality, is immortal.

We live in this world in order always to learn industriously and to enlighten each other by means of discussion and to strive vigorously to promote the progress of science and the fine arts.

As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence, I have formed during the last few years such close relationships with this best and truest friend of mankind that death’s image is not only no longer terrifying to me, but is indeed very soothing and consoling.

Patience and tranquility of mind contribute more to cure our distempers as the whole art of medicine.

Music is my life and my life is music. Anyone who does not understand this is not worthy of God.

The wonders of the music of the future will be of a higher & wider scale and will introduce many sounds that the human ear is now incapable of hearing. Among these new sounds will be the glorious music of angelic chorales. As men hear these they will cease to consider Angels as figments of their imagination.

Our riches, being in our brains, die with us. Unless of course someone chops off our head, in which case, we won’t need them anyway.

Believe me, I do not like idleness but work.

Melody is the essence of music.

An unmarried man, in my opinion, enjoys only half a life.

Forgive me, Majesty. I am a vulgar man! But I assure you, my music is not.

The best way to learn is through the powerful force of rhythm.

Whoever is most impertinent has the best chance.

To my eyes and ears the organ will ever be the King of Instruments.

My dear sister! I’m amazed to discover that you can compose so delightfully. In a word, your Lied is beautiful. You must compose more often.

When I am traveling in a carriage or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that ideas flow best and most abundantly.

Music, in even the most terrible situations, must never offend the ear but always remain a source of pleasure.

If I were obliged to marry all those with whom I have jested, I should have at least two hundred wives.

People err who think my art comes easily to me. I assure you, dear friend, nobody has devoted so much time and thought to compositions as I. There is not a famous master whose music I have not industriously studied through many times.

Love guards the heart from the abyss.

Creativity is the firing of my soul.

Handel understands effect better than any of us when he chooses, he strikes like a thunderbolt.

When I feel well and in a good humor, or when I am taking a drive or walking after a good meal, or in the night when I cannot sleep, thoughts crowd into my mind as easily as you could wish.

The golden mean, the truth, is no longer recognized or valued. To win applause one must write stuff so simple that a coachman might sing it, or so incomprehensible that it pleases simply because no sensible man can comprehend it.

True perfection in all things is no longer known or prized – you must write music that is either so simple a coachman could sing it, or so unintelligible that audiences like it simply because no sane person could understand it.

It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion.

You know that I immerse myself in music, so to speak that I think about it all day long that I like experimenting studying reflecting.

I too had to work hard, so as not to have to work hard any longer.

I really do not aim at any originality.

A man of ordinary talent will always be ordinary, whether he travels or not; but a man of superior talent (which I cannot deny myself to be without being impious) will go to pieces if he remains forever in the same place.

I should like to know for what reason idleness is so popular with many young people that it is impossible to dissuade them from it either by words or by chastisements.

Just as people behave to me, so do I behave to them. When I see that a person despises me and treats me with contempt, I can be as proud as any peacock.

I compare a good melodist to a fine racer, and counterpoints to hack post-horses; therefore be advised, let well alone and remember the old Italian proverb: Chi sa più, meno sa. Who knows most, knows least.

When I am traveling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that ideas flow best and most abundantly.

I am not thoughtless but am prepared for anything and as a result can wait patiently for whatever the future holds in store, and I’ll be able to endure it.

To win applause one must write stuff so simple that a coachman might sing it.

Music must never offend the ear, but must please the listener, or, in other words, must never cease to be music.

It is a great consolation for me to remember that the Lord, to whom I had drawn near in humble and child-like faith, has suffered and died for me, and that He will look on me in love and compassion.

One must not make oneself cheap here that is a cardinal point or else one is done. Whoever is most impertinent has the best chance.

I pay no attention whatever to anybody s praise or blame. I simply follow my own feelings.

How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what anyone tells them and do not choose to judge for themselves! But it is always so.

They probably think because I am so small and young, nothing of greatness and class can come out of me; but they shall soon find out.

It is when I am, as it were, completely myself, entirely alone, and of good cheer that ideas flow best and most abundantly. Whence and how they come, I know not, nor can I force them.

I am a fool. That is well known.

My fatherland has always the first claim on me.

The most stimulating and encouraging thought is that you, dearest father, and my dear sister, are well, that I am an honest German, and that if I am not always permitted to talk I can think what I please; but that is all.

The best way to learn is through the powerful force of rhythm.

Versification is, indeed, indispensable for music, but rhyme, solely for rhyming’s sake, most pernicious.

If one has the talent it pushes for utterance and torments one; it will out; and then one is out with it without questioning.

I am never happier than when I have something to compose, for that, after all, is my sole delight and passion.

I never lie down at night without reflecting that, young as I am, I may not live to see another day.

The happy medium truth in all things is no longer either known or valued; to gain applause, one must write things so inane that they might be played on barrel-organs, or so unintelligible that no rational being can comprehend them, though, on that very account, they are likely to please.

All I insist on, and nothing else, is that you should show the whole world that you are not afraid. Be silent, if you choose; but when it is necessary, speak in such a way that people will remember it.

I hope never to marry in this way; I wish to make my wife happy, but not to become rich by her means, so I will let things alone and enjoy my golden freedom till I am so well off that I can support both wife and children.

It is, of course, a money marriage, nothing more. I wouldn’t want to enter into this kind of marriage. I wish to make my wife happy and not make my happiness through her.

If people could see into my heart, I should almost feel ashamed – all there is cold, cold as ice.

To win applause one must write stuff so simple that a coachman might sing it.

If I were obliged to marry all those with whom I have jested, I should have at least two hundred wives.

To my eyes and ears, the organ will ever be the King of Instruments.

My father is maestro at the Metropolitan church, which gives me an opportunity to write for the church as much as I please.

I beg you most humbly to go on loving me just a little and to make do with these poor congratulations until I get some new drawers made for my small and narrow brainbox in which I can keep the brains that I still intend to acquire.

A bachelor, in my opinion, is only half alive.

Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.

Versification is, indeed, indispensable for music, but rhyme, solely for rhyming’s sake, most pernicious.

It is a mistake to think that the practice of my art has become easy to me. I assure you, dear friend, no one has given so much care to the study of composition as I. There is scarcely a famous master in music whose works I have not frequently and diligently studied.

I live in a country where music has very little success, though, exclusive of those who have forsaken us, we have still admirable professors and, more particularly, composers of great solidity, knowledge, and taste.

I should like to know for what reason idleness is so popular with many young people that it is impossible to dissuade them from it either by words or by chastisements.

Believe me, my sole purpose is to make as much money as possible; for after good health it is the best thing to have.

I am never happier than when I have something to compose, for that, after all, is my sole delight and passion.

I hope never to marry in this way; I wish to make my wife happy, but not to become rich by her means, so I will let things alone and enjoy my golden freedom till I am so well off that I can support both wife and children.

When I come to reflect on the subject, in no country have I received such honors or been so esteemed as in Italy, and nothing contributes more to a man’s fame than to have written Italian operas, and especially for Naples.

I was absolutely determined to leave. They wouldn’t let me. They wanted me to give a concert; I wanted them to beg me. And so they did. I gave a concert.

As death, when we come to consider it closely, is the true goal of our existence.

Our arses should be signs of peace!

Mozart’s Stellar Legacy

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in classical music history. Born in 1756 in Salzburg, Austria, he was a child prodigy who began composing music very young. Throughout his short but prolific life, he composed more than 600 works, including operas, symphonies, chamber music, and more.

1. Classical music

Mozart’s legacy is multifaceted and encompasses his music, his impact on the world of classical music, and his enduring influence on popular culture. His music is characterized by its beauty, complexity, and emotional depth, and it continues to be celebrated and performed by orchestras and ensembles worldwide. From his operas, such as “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Don Giovanni,” to his symphonies, such as the famous “Jupiter Symphony,” Mozart’s work represents the pinnacle of classical music composition.

Mozart’s impact on the world of classical music cannot be overstated. He was a key figure in the transition from the Baroque period to the Classical period, and his work helped shape classical music’s development throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. His music also inspired generations of composers who followed in his footsteps, including Beethoven, Brahms, and Schubert.

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2. Pop culture

Mozart’s influence extends beyond the world of classical music as well. His music has been used in countless films, television shows, and other forms of media, and his name has become synonymous with the idea of artistic genius. His life and work continue to fascinate and inspire people worldwide, and his legacy serves as a testament to the power of art to move and inspire.

3. Personal life

Finally, his personal life and impact on popular culture also define Mozart’s legacy. He was known for his larger-than-life personality, love of opera, and often tumultuous personal relationships. His life has been the subject of numerous books, films, and other forms of media, and his name continues to be synonymous with artistic brilliance and creative genius.

Wrapping Up

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s legacy is one of enduring brilliance and creativity. His music continues to be celebrated and performed by musicians worldwide, and his influence on classical music cannot be overstated. His impact on popular culture and his larger-than-life personality have also helped cement his place as one of the most iconic figures in music and art history.

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Nemanja Đukić
Nemanja Đukić

I am a writer and a teacher of rhetoric, international humanitarian law, and entrepreneurship. As a writer, I specialize in writing about history, politics, and finding quirky ways to elevate all the great selling points of a product/service. I obtained my bachelor's degree in International Relations at the University of Montenegro and completed my master' s studies at the Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary where I studied diplomacy. I believe studying diplomacy and politics sets you up for knowing how to craft a sentence, how to fill it with content and ensure that your audience understands the message.