Jean Sibelius Quotes

• Music begins where the possibilities of language end.

  Jean Sibelius

  Music, Language, Possibility

  Interview with Berlingske Tidende, June 10, 1919.

  90 Copy quote

• Pay no attention to what the critics say;
  no statue has ever been erected to a critic.

  Jean Sibelius

  Inspirational, Confidence, Perseverance

  91 Copy quote

• If we understood the world, we would realize that there is a logic of harmony underlying its manifold apparent dissonances.

  Jean Sibelius

  World, Logic, Realizing

  "Living Biographies of Great Composers" by Henry Thomas and Dana Lee Thomas, Garden City (NY): Blue Ribbon, (p. 309), 1946.

  67 Copy quote

• If I could express the same thing with words as with music, I would, of course, use a verbal expression. Music is something autonomous and much richer. Music begins where the possibilities of language end. That is why I write music.

  Jean Sibelius

  Writing, Expression, Use

  Interview with Berlingske Tidende, June 10, 1919.

  80 Copy quote

• Music is, for me, like a beautiful mosaic which God has put together. He takes all the pieces in his hand, throws them into the world, and we have to recreate the picture from the pieces.

  Jean Sibelius

  Beautiful, Hands, Together

  Jean Sibelius' remarks quoted by Jalmari Finne to Anna Sarlin, June 28, 1905.

  60 Copy quote

• If you really put a small value upon yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price. Pay no attention to what the critics say. A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.

  Jean Sibelius

  Confidence, Honor, Attention

  55 Copy quote

• Whereas most other modern composers are engaged in manufacturing cocktails of every hue and description, I offer the public cold spring water.

  Jean Sibelius

  Water, Hue, Cocktails

  "Sibelius: The Symphonies" by Cecil Gray, London: Oxford University Press, (p. 56), 1935.

  51 Copy quote

• All the doctors who wanted to forbid me to smoke and to drink are dead.

  Jean Sibelius

  Doctors, Drink, Wanted

  62 Copy quote

• Music is on a higher plane than everything else in this world.

  Jean Sibelius

  World, Planes, Music Is

  53 Copy quote

• Millions of years ago, in my previous incarnations, I must have been related to swans... because I can still feel that affinity.

  Jean Sibelius

  Swans, Years, Reincarnation

  43 Copy quote

• I often conduct an orchestra in my sleep; my orchestras are so huge that the back desks of the violas vanish into the horizon. And everything is so wonderful.

  Jean Sibelius

  Sleep, Horizon, Orchestra

  Jean Sibelius' remarks to Jussi Jalas, August 27, 1943.

  46 Copy quote

• The framework of a symphony must be so strong that it forces you to follow it, regardless of the environment and circumstances.

  Jean Sibelius

  Strong, Symphony, Environment

  Jean Sibelius' remarks to Jussi Jalas, October 1, 1939.

  37 Copy quote

• For me, music begins where words end.

  Jean Sibelius

  Ends, Music Is

  35 Copy quote

• For an instant God opens his door and His orchestra plays the Fifth Symphony.

  Jean Sibelius

  Doors, Play, Symphony

  34 Copy quote

• It is so difficult to mix with artists! You must choose business men to talk to, because artists only talk of money.

  Jean Sibelius

  Artist, Men, Difficult

  "Sibelius: A Close-Up" by Jean Sibelius, London: Faber and Faber, (p. 94),

  22 Copy quote

• No statue has ever been put up to a critic.

  Jean Sibelius

  Critics, Statues

  "Biography/ Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

  18 Copy quote

• No one ever erected a statue of a critic.

  Jean Sibelius

  Critics, Statues

  13 Copy quote

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