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69 Top Richard Wagner Quotes That You Will Surely Love

Famous As: Known for His Operas and Music Dramas ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’ and ‘Tristan und Isolde’
Born On: May 22, 1813
Died On: February 13, 1883
Born In: Leipzig, Germany
Died At Age: 69
Richard Wagner was a famous German composer and theatre director known for his brilliant operas. As a child he was very ambitious and wrote his first drama at the age of 11 and then developed his first composition at the age of 16. He performed his first symphony during his graduation. He then joined the ‘Magdeburg Theatre’ as a music director and came up with the lyrics and music for ‘Das Liebesverbot’. He moved to Riga to work on his first staged opera titled ‘Rienzi’ which turned out to be a failure and he had to escape to Paris to avoid his creditors. His was in a self-imposed-exile for 12 long years doing some petty jobs to survive. During this period he started off by writing a libretto for a single opera called ‘Siegfrieds Tod (Siegfried's Death)’ which was followed by a sequel ‘Der junge Siegfried’. His most appreciated work ‘Ring Cycle’ enhanced his reputation as a composer. His work had fascinated the king of Wagner who invited him to stage his famous works and even cleared all his debts to end his exile. We bring to you a collection of quotes and thoughts by Richard Wagner which have been curated from his work, compositions, writings, dramas and librettos.  Presenting some of the notable quotations and sayings by Richard Wagner.
Joy is not in things; it is in us

Joy is not in things; it is in us

Richard Wagner
Certain things in Mozart will and can never be excelled.

Certain things in Mozart will and can never be excelled.

Richard Wagner
...music is the living God in our bosoms.

...music is the living God in our bosoms.

Richard Wagner
I am writing Parsifal only for my wife - if I had to depend on the German spirit, I should have nothing more to say.

I am writing Parsifal only for my wife - if I had to depend on the German spirit, I should have nothing more to say.

Richard Wagner
It is impossible to communicate with Schumann. The man is hopeless; he doesn't talk at all.

It is impossible to communicate with Schumann. The man is hopeless; he doesn't talk at all.

Richard Wagner
The most tremendous genius raised Mozart above all masters, 
 in all centuries and in all the arts.

The most tremendous genius raised Mozart above all masters, in all centuries and in all the arts.

Richard Wagner
Music truely has to all other arts the same relation as religion to the church.

Music truely has to all other arts the same relation as religion to the church.

Richard Wagner

The long-term vision is to replace, repair and regenerate failing tissues and organs with the materials of tissues and organs. It's still 'out there,' but it's possible to put together a grant proposal now that doesn't sound completely crazy.

Richard Wagner
...you know my faithfulness to you, never can another own my heart, never - never - never...

...you know my faithfulness to you, never can another own my heart, never - never - never...

Richard Wagner
I know nothing at all about music.

I know nothing at all about music.

Richard Wagner
The immoral profession of musical criticism must be abolished.

The immoral profession of musical criticism must be abolished.

Richard Wagner
The purpose of art: to make the unconscious conscious.

The purpose of art: to make the unconscious conscious.

Richard Wagner
Many's the man/ who thought himself wise/ but what he needed/ he did not know...

Many's the man/ who thought himself wise/ but what he needed/ he did not know...

Richard Wagner
Any so-called stimulus program is a ruse. The government can increase its spending only by reducing private spending equivalently.

Any so-called stimulus program is a ruse. The government can increase its spending only by reducing private spending equivalently.

Richard Wagner
Achievements, seldom credited to their source, are the result of unspeakable drudgery and worries.

Achievements, seldom credited to their source, are the result of unspeakable drudgery and worries.

Richard Wagner
The only form of music is melody, without melody music is not feasible, and music and melody are quite inseparable.

The only form of music is melody, without melody music is not feasible, and music and melody are quite inseparable.

Richard Wagner
Music is the inarticulate speech of the heart, which cannot be compressed into words, because it is infinite.

Music is the inarticulate speech of the heart, which cannot be compressed into words, because it is infinite.

Richard Wagner

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; - I believe that he who once has bathed in the sublime delights of this high Art, is consecrate to Her for ever, and never can deny Her; - I believe that through Art all men are saved.

Richard Wagner
I regard the Jewish race as the born enemy of pure humanity and everything that is noble in it.

I regard the Jewish race as the born enemy of pure humanity and everything that is noble in it.

Richard Wagner
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

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 Wagner
I hate this fast growing tendency to chain men to machines in big factories and deprive them of all joy in their efforts - the plan will lead to cheap men and cheap products.

I hate this fast growing tendency to chain men to machines in big factories and deprive them of all joy in their efforts - the plan will lead to cheap men and cheap products.

Richard Wagner

When religion becomes artificial, art has a duty to rescue it. Art can show that the symbols which religions would have us believe literally true are actually figurative. Art can idealize those symbols, and so reveal the profound truths they contain.

Richard Wagner
The essence of higher instrumental music lays herein that one is able to express in tones that what one is unable to say in words.

The essence of higher instrumental music lays herein that one is able to express in tones that what one is unable to say in words.

Richard Wagner
Human dignity begins to assert itself only at the point where man is distinguishable from the beast by pity for it.

Human dignity begins to assert itself only at the point where man is distinguishable from the beast by pity for it.

Richard Wagner
A political man is disgusting, but a political wife, horrible.

A political man is disgusting, but a political wife, horrible.

Richard Wagner
Imagination creates reality.

Imagination creates reality.

Richard Wagner
Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them.

Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them.

Richard Wagner
I know of only one composer who measures up to Beethoven, and that is Bruckner.

I know of only one composer who measures up to Beethoven, and that is Bruckner.

Richard Wagner
The whole duty of a conductor is comprised in his ability to indicate the right tempo.

The whole duty of a conductor is comprised in his ability to indicate the right tempo.

Richard Wagner
My destiny is solitude, and my life is work.

My destiny is solitude, and my life is work.

Richard Wagner