He had always wanted to write Music and he could give no other identity to the thing he sought. If you want to know what it is, he told himself, listen to the first phrases of Tchaikowsky’s First Concerto, or the last movement of Rachmaninoff’s Second. Men have not found the words for it nor the deed nor the thought, but they have found the Music. Let me see that in one single act of man on earth. Let me see it made real. Let me see the answer to the promise of that Music. Not servants nor those served; not altars and immolations; but the final, the fulfilled, innocent of pain. Don’t help me or serve me, but let me see it once, because I need it. Don’t work for my happiness, my brothers – Show me yours – show me that it is possible – show me your achievement – and the knowledge will give me courage for mine.
—Ayn Rand (1905–82) Russian-born American Novelist, Philosopher
Among the instrumentalities of love and peace, surely there can be no sweeter, softer, more effective voice than that of gentle peace-breathing music.
—Elihu Burritt (1810–79) American Pacifist, Diplomat
I was a veteran before I was a teenager.
—Michael Jackson (1958–2009) American Singer-Songwriter
After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
I think it is time we learned the lesson of our century: that the progress of the human spirit must keep pace with technological and scientific progress, or that spirit will die. It is incumbent on our educators to remember this; and music is at the top of the spiritual must list. When the study of the arts leads to the adoration of the formula (heaven forbid), we shall be lost. But as long as we insist on maintaining artistic vitality, we are able to hope in man
—Leonard Bernstein (1918–90) American Composer, Conductor
There is something very wonderful about music. Words are wonderful enough; but music is even more wonderful. It speaks not to our thoughts as words do; it speaks through our hearts and spirits, to the very core and root of our souls. Music soothes us, stirs us up, it puts noble feelings in us, it can make us cringe; and it can melt us to tears; and yet we have no idea how. It is a language by itself, just as perfect in its ways as speech, as words, just as divine, just as blessed.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
Through every pulse the music stole, and held sublime communion with the soul; wrung from the coyest breast the imprisoned sigh, and kindled rapture in the coldest eye.
—James Montgomery (1771–1854) English Hymn writer, Poet, Editor, Humanitarian
She was one of those people who said “I don’t know anything about music, but I know what I like.”
—Max Beerbohm (1872–1956) British Essayist, Caricaturist, Novelist
Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears form the eyes of woman.
—Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) German Composer, Musician
Music is the art of the prophets, the only art that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.
—Martin Luther (1483–1546) German Protestant Theologian
What we play is life.
—Louis Armstrong (1900–71) American Jazz Trumpeter, Singer
Where words fail, music speaks.
—Hans Christian Andersen (1805–75) Danish Author, Poet, Short Story Writer
I know only two tunes. One them is “Yankee Doodle” and the other isn’t.
—Ulysses S. Grant (1822–85) American Civil War General, Head of State
I am always writing a potpourri of music. I want to give the world escapism through the wonder of great music and to reach the masses.
—Michael Jackson (1958–2009) American Singer-Songwriter
Music is spiritual. The music business is not.
—Van Morrison
Music when healthy, is the teacher of perfect order, and when depraved, the teacher of perfect disorder.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Music, of all the liberal arts, has the greatest influence over the passions, and is that to which the legislator ought to give the greatest encouragement.
—Napoleon I (1769–1821) Emperor of France
The meaning of song goes deep. Who is there that, in logical words, can express the effect music has on us? A kind of inarticulate, unfathomable speech, which leads us to the edge of the infinite, and lets us for moments gaze into that!
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
If you can walk you can dance. If you can talk you can sing.
—African Proverb
Music and dancing (the more the pity) have become so closely associated with ideas of riot and debauchery among the less cultivated classes, that a taste for them, for their own sakes, can hardly be said to exist, and before they can be recommended as innocent or safe amusements, a very great change of ideas must take place.
—John Herschel (1792–1871) English Mathematician, Astronomer, Chemist
Musical people are so absurdly unreasonable. They always want one to be perfectly dumb at the very moment when one is longing to be absolutely deaf.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Music, the mosaic of the air.
—Andrew Marvell (1621–78) English Metaphysical Poet
Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.
—Anonymous
One is hardly sensible of fatigue while he marches to music.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Is it not strange that sheep’s guts should hale souls out of men’s bodies?
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
I resent performing for frisking idiots who don’t know anything.
—John Lennon (1940–80) British Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Activist
A note of music gains significance from the silence on either side.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
Of all the arts beneath the heaven that man has found or God has given, none draws the soul so sweet away, as music’s melting, mystic lay; slight emblem of the bliss above, it soothes the spirit all to love.
—James Hogg (1770–1835) Scottish Poet, Novelist
A symphony is a stage play with the parts written for instruments instead of for actors.
—Colin Wilson (b.1931) British Philosopher, Novelist