“Beethoven... he is a miracle!”
“You can’t sing Beethoven from the neck up --- you’ll bleed! Beethoven is not precious. He’s prodigal as hell. He tramples all over nicety. He’s ugly, heroic; he roars, he lusts after beauty, he rages after nobility. Be ye not temperate!”
“He had said it bravely, and that is why one can trust Beethoven when he says other things.”
“When Milton met Beethoven he said 'I've been told that you cannot hear.' And that was true, but Beethoven read Milton's lips and understood so he nodded his head 'yes.' Unfortunately Milton was blind so he didn't see the head nod and patiently awaited a response until he starved.”
“I'd like to hear your opinion on this piece of Beethoven. And remember, it is not Beethoven who is being examined here.”
“I'm not Beethoven!”