We must learn to die, and to die in the fullest sense of the word. The fear of the end is the source of all lovelessness
Richard WagnerRead
I believe in God, Mozart and Beethoven, and likewise their disciples and apostles; - I believe in the Holy Spirit and the truth of the one, indivisible Art; - I believe that this Art proceeds from God, and lives within the hearts of all illumined men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a deep belief in the divine nature of art, particularly classical music, and its ability to resonate with enlightened individuals.
Richard Wagner highlights a profound connection between divine inspiration and the creative genius of composers like Mozart and Beethoven. He suggests that true art is not only a product of human effort but also a manifestation of a higher truth, reflecting a universal spirit that resides in those capable of understanding and appreciating its beauty.
Themes
ArtMusicDivineInspirationCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on the importance of music in spirituality.
More from Richard Wagner
All quotes →The oldest, truest, most beautiful organ of music, the origin to which alone our music owes its being, is the human voice.
Richard WagnerRead
Here, everything is tragic through and through, and the will, that fain would shape a world according to its wish, at last can reach no greater satisfaction than the breaking of itself in dignified annulment.
Richard WagnerRead
I can't distract myself enough here, for sketches to a new opera are constantly buzzing around in my head, to the extent that I need all my strength to wrest myself from them.
Richard WagnerRead
Everything lives and lasts by the inner necessity of its being, by its own nature's need.
Richard WagnerRead
One might say that where Religion becomes artificial, it is reserved for Art to save the spirit of religion.
Richard WagnerRead
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There is rarely a creative man who does not have to pay a high price for the divine spark of his greatest gifts... the human element is frequently bled for the benefit of the creative element and to such an extent that it even brings out the bad qualities, as for instance, ruthless, naive egoism (so-called "auto-eroticism"), vanity, all kinds of vices-and all this in order to bring to the human I at least some life-strength, since otherwise it would perish of sheer inanition.
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A book is never a masterpiece: it becomes one. Genius is the talent of a dead man.
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The artist doesn't really think about consequences - he or she does the work, stands back and looks at and thinks, 'Hmm, that could have worked better like this.' But as a person who needs to sell tickets to do the next work, one needs to analyze how it does or does not hit its mark.
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My music has been a sort of personal therapy. It's got me out of tough times, it has been the friend that I needed, when I didn't have a friend there.
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I'd like to think I've left something in the world. Without in any way trying to be morbid, but life is very short, and I'd like to think I'd leave some body of work that would inspire other musicians long after I've gone.
Paul WellerRead