Brahms Quote by Franz Liszt
“Brahms' Variations are better than mine, but mine were written before his.”
About This Quote
Liszt admires Brahms’ variations but notes his own were composed earlier, showing humility and respect.
In simple terms: He respects Brahms yet acknowledges his own earlier work.
Key Takeaway
Value others’ art while recognizing your own timeline.
Themes
humility
artistic respect
historical context
Mood
respectful
thoughtful
Type
historical
musical
When to use this quote
- music education
- composition analysis
- historical research
Key Concepts
musical influence
creative chronology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does chronology affect artistic value?
- What can we learn from mutual respect among composers?
A Different Perspective
Comparisons may overlook differing artistic goals.
![“Brahms stayed an extra day to hear my [Fifth] Symphony and was very kind ... I like his honesty and open-mindedness. Neither he nor the players liked the finale, which I also think rather horrible.” quote by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/099/pyotr-ilyich-tchaikovsky-23045_brahms_brahms-stayed-an-extra-day-to-hear-my-fi_1772048.jpg)
![“...stories about [the German composer Johannes] Brahms's rudeness and wit amused me in particular. For instance, I loved the one about how a great wine connoisseur invited the composer to dinner. 'This is the Brahms of my cellar,' he said to his guests, producing a dust-covered bottle and pouring…” quote by Arthur Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/84f/arthur-rubinstein-17373_amused_stories-about-the-german-composer-johann_2777721.jpg)
