To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist.
Robert SchumannRead
Endeavour to play easy pieces well and with elegance; that is better than to play difficult pieces badly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Focus on mastering simpler tasks with grace rather than struggling with complex ones poorly.
This quote emphasizes the importance of quality over complexity in any pursuit, especially in music. Schumann suggests that performing simpler pieces with elegance and skill is far more valuable than attempting to tackle challenging works without the necessary proficiency.
Themes
MusicEleganceSimplicityMasteryPerformance
In practice
Example use cases
In a music lesson, a teacher might quote Schumann to encourage students to focus on perfecting basic songs.
More from Robert Schumann
All quotes βIt was an unforgettable picture to see Chopin sitting at the piano like a clairvoyant, lost in his dreams; to see how his vision communicated itself through his playing, and how, at the end of each piece, he had the sad habit of running one finger over the length of the plaintive keyboard, as though to tear himself forcibly away from his dream.
Robert SchumannRead
I am so fresh in soul and spirit that life gushes and bubbles around me in a thousand springs.
Robert SchumannRead
Think it a vile habit to alter works of good composers, to omit parts of them, or to insert new-fashioned ornaments. This is the greatest insult you can offer to Art.
Robert SchumannRead
You write to become immortal, or because the piano happens to be open, or you've looked into a pair of beautiful eyes.
Robert SchumannRead
For me, music is always the language which permits one to converse with the Beyond.
Robert SchumannRead
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