Beethoven, the Man and the Artist Part 19

(February 8, 1823, to Zelter, with whom he is negotiating the sale of a copy of the Ma.s.s in D.)

272. "Why so many dishes? Man is certainly very little higher than the other animals if his chief delights are those of the table."

(Reported by J. A. Stumpff, in the "Harmonicon" of 1824. He dined with Beethoven in Baden.)

273. "Whoever tells a lie is not pure of heart, and such a person can not cook a clean soup."

(To Mme. Streicher, in 1817, or 1818, after having dismissed an otherwise good housekeeper because she had told a falsehood to spare his feelings.)

274. "Vice walks through paths full of present l.u.s.ts and persuades many to follow it. Virtue pursues a steep path and is less seductive to mankind, especially if at another place there are persons who call them to a gently declining road."

(Diary, 1815.)

275. "Sensual enjoyment without a union of soul is b.e.s.t.i.a.l and will always remain b.e.s.t.i.a.l."

(Diary, 1812-18.)

276. "Men are not only together when they are with each other; even the distant and the dead live with us."

(To Therese Malfatti, later Baroness von Drossd.i.c.k, to whom in the country he sent Goethe's "Wilhelm Meister" and Schlegel's translation of Shakespeare.)

277. "There is no goodness except the possession of a good soul, which may be seen in all things, from which one need not seek to hide."

(August 15, 1812, to Bettina von Arnim.)

278. "The foundation of friendship demands the greatest likeness of human souls and hearts."

(Baden, July 24, 1804, to Ries, describing his quarrel with Breuning.)

279. "True friendship can rest only on the union of like natures."

(Diary, 1812-18.)

280. "The people say nothing; they are merely people. As a rule they only see themselves in others, and what they see is nothing; away with them! The good and the beautiful needs no people,--it exists without outward help, and this seems to be the reason of our enduring friendship."

(September 16, 1812, to Amalie Sebald, in Teplitz, who had playfully called him a tyrant.)

281. "Look, my dear Ries; these are the great connoisseurs who affect to be able to judge of any piece of music so correctly and keenly. Give them but the name of their favorite,--they need no more!"

(To his pupil Ries, who had, as a joke, played a mediocre march at a gathering at Count Browne's and announced it to be a composition by Beethoven. When the march was praised beyond measure Beethoven broke out into a grim laugh.)

282. "Do not let all men see the contempt which they deserve; we do not know when we may need them."

(Note in the Diary of 1814, after having had an unpleasant experience with his "friend" Bertolini. "Henceforth never step inside his house; shame on you to ask anything from such an one.")

283. "Our Time stands in need of powerful minds who will scourge these petty, malicious and miserable scoundrels,--much as my heart resents doing injury to a fellow man."

(In 1825, to his nephew, in reference to the publication of a satirical canon on the Viennese publisher, Haslinger, by Schott, of Mayence.)

284. "Today is Sunday. Shall I read something for you from the Gospels?

'Love ye one another!'"

(To Frau Streicher.)

285. "Hate reacts on those who nourish it."

(Diary, 1812-18.)

286. "When friends get into a quarrel it is always best not to call in an intermediary, but to have friend turn to friend direct."

(Vienna, November 2, 1793, to Eleonore von Breuning, of Bonn.)

287. "There are reasons for the conduct of men which one is not always willing to explain, but which, nevertheless, are based on ineradicable necessity."

(In 1815, to Brauchle.)