(December 22, 1822, to Ferdinand Ries, in London.)
172. “Mentally I often frame an answer, but when I come to write it down
I generally throw the pen aside, since I am not able to write what I
feel.”
(October 7, 1826, to his friend Wegeler, in Coblenz. “The better sort
of people, I think, know me anyhow.” He is excusing his laziness in
letter-writing.)
173. “I have the gift to conceal my sensitiveness touching a multitude
of things; but when I am provoked at a moment when I am more sensitive
than usual to anger, I burst out more violently than anybody else.”
(July 24, 1804, to Ries, in reporting to him a quarrel with Stephan von
Breuning.)
174. “X. is completely changed since I threw half a dozen books at her
head. Perhaps something of their contents accidentally got into her head
or her wicked heart.”
(To Mme. Streicher, who often had to put Beethoven’s house in order.)
175. “I can have no intercourse, and do not want to have any, with
persons who are not willing to believe in me because I have not yet made
a wide reputation.”
(To Prince Lobkowitz, about 1798. A cavalier had failed to show him
proper respect in the Prince’s salon.)
176. “Many a vigorous and unconsidered word drops from my mouth, for
which reason I am considered mad.”
(In the summer of 1880, to Dr. Muller, of Bremen, who was paying him a
visit.)
177. “I will grapple with Fate; it shall not quite bear me down. O, it
is lovely to live life a thousand times!”
(November 16, 1800, or 1801, to Wegeler.)
178. “Morality is the strength of men who distinguish themselves over
others, and it is mine.”
(In a communication to his friend, Baron Zmeskall.)