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48 Great Quotes By Gustav Mahler On Love, Music, Life And More

Famous As: One of the Most Frequently Performed and Recorded of All Composers
Born On: July 7, 1860
Died On: May 18, 1911
Born In: Czeh Republic
Died At Age: 50
Gustav Mahler was a celebrated Austrian romantic composer. He was also one of the leading conductors of his generation. He is accredited for acting as a bridge as a composer between modernism of the early 20th century and Austro-German tradition of the 19th century. He is renowned as one of the most influential and prominent symphonic composers of his time. His creations primarily comprised of symphonic and song cycles that postulated complex orchestral scores. He is also credited with introducing a number of distinctive styles as a composer which in turn laid an intense influence on Viennese composers. Here is a list of quotable quotations and sayings by the distinguished composer which have been extracted from his works, thoughts, compositions and life. Go through the corpus of quotes and thoughts by Gustav Mahler which are till date quoted extensively.
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Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.

Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.

Gustav Mahler
If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music.

If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music.

Gustav Mahler
A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything.

A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything.

Gustav Mahler
I am hitting my head against the walls, but the walls are giving way.

I am hitting my head against the walls, but the walls are giving way.

Gustav Mahler
What is best in music is not to be found in the notes.

What is best in music is not to be found in the notes.

Gustav Mahler
It's not just a question of conquering a summit previously unknown, but of tracing, step by step, a new pathway to it.

It's not just a question of conquering a summit previously unknown, but of tracing, step by step, a new pathway to it.

Gustav Mahler
But it's peculiar, as soon as I am in the midst of nature and by myself, everything that is base and trivial vanishes without trace. On such days nothing scares me; and this helps me again and again.

But it's peculiar, as soon as I am in the midst of nature and by myself, everything that is base and trivial vanishes without trace. On such days nothing scares me; and this helps me again and again.

Gustav Mahler
The call of love sounds very hollow among these immobile rocks.

The call of love sounds very hollow among these immobile rocks.

Gustav Mahler
The point is not to take the world's opinion as a guiding star but to go one's way in life and working unerringly, neither depressed by failure nor seduced by applause.

The point is not to take the world's opinion as a guiding star but to go one's way in life and working unerringly, neither depressed by failure nor seduced by applause.

Gustav Mahler
With the coming of spring, I am calm again.

With the coming of spring, I am calm again.

Gustav Mahler
When I have reached a summit, I leave it with great reluctance, unless it is to reach for another, higher one.

When I have reached a summit, I leave it with great reluctance, unless it is to reach for another, higher one.

Gustav Mahler
Don't bother looking at the view - I have already composed it.

Don't bother looking at the view - I have already composed it.

Gustav Mahler
The impressions of the spriritual experiences gave my future life its form and content.

The impressions of the spriritual experiences gave my future life its form and content.

Gustav Mahler
I am thrice homeless, as a native of Bohemia in Austria, as an Austrian among Germans, and as a Jew throughout the world. Everywhere an intruder, never welcomed.

I am thrice homeless, as a native of Bohemia in Austria, as an Austrian among Germans, and as a Jew throughout the world. Everywhere an intruder, never welcomed.

Gustav Mahler
Man lives in greatest pain

Man lives in greatest pain

Gustav Mahler
You must renounce all superficiality, all convention, all vanity and delusion.

You must renounce all superficiality, all convention, all vanity and delusion.

Gustav Mahler
I beg of you... never assume an inner or an outer pose, never a disguise.

I beg of you... never assume an inner or an outer pose, never a disguise.

Gustav Mahler
The longer you live and the more you learn, the more clearly you will feel the difference between the few men who are truly great and the mere virtuosi.

The longer you live and the more you learn, the more clearly you will feel the difference between the few men who are truly great and the mere virtuosi.

Gustav Mahler
What I wanted and what I visualized while composing has not always been realized.

What I wanted and what I visualized while composing has not always been realized.

Gustav Mahler
To judge a composer's work, one must consider it as a whole.

To judge a composer's work, one must consider it as a whole.

Gustav Mahler
The real art of conducting consists in transitions.

The real art of conducting consists in transitions.

Gustav Mahler
The further the music develops, the more complex the apparatus used by the composer to express his thoughts becomes.

The further the music develops, the more complex the apparatus used by the composer to express his thoughts becomes.

Gustav Mahler
Melodic invention is one of the surest signs of a divine gift.

Melodic invention is one of the surest signs of a divine gift.

Gustav Mahler
It should be one's sole endeavor to see everything afresh and create it anew.

It should be one's sole endeavor to see everything afresh and create it anew.

Gustav Mahler
It is easier to achieve a desired result in short pieces.

It is easier to achieve a desired result in short pieces.

Gustav Mahler
In the theatrical works we love and admire the most, the ending of the drama generally takes place offstage.

In the theatrical works we love and admire the most, the ending of the drama generally takes place offstage.

Gustav Mahler
If I weren't the way I am, I shouldn't write my symphonies.

If I weren't the way I am, I shouldn't write my symphonies.

Gustav Mahler
I hope you will no longer accuse me of a lack of delicacy. as I now count on your understanding.

I hope you will no longer accuse me of a lack of delicacy. as I now count on your understanding.

Gustav Mahler
I don't let myself get carried away by my own ideas - I abandon 19 out of 20 of them every day.

I don't let myself get carried away by my own ideas - I abandon 19 out of 20 of them every day.

Gustav Mahler
Beauty and fullness of tone can be achieved by having the whole orchestra play with high clarinets and a carefully selected number of piccolos.

Beauty and fullness of tone can be achieved by having the whole orchestra play with high clarinets and a carefully selected number of piccolos.

Gustav Mahler