--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Richard Wagner, a musician who wrote…" description: "\"Richard Wagner, a musician who wrote music which is better than it sounds.\" — Richard Wagner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/richard-wagner-7708_music_richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-musi_458097.jpg" --- # Richard Wagner, a musician who wrote music which is better… ![“Richard Wagner, a musician who wrote music which is better than it sounds.” quote by Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/richard-wagner-7708_music_richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-musi_458097.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/richard-wagner-7708_music_richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-musi_458097.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/richard-wagner-7708_music_richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-musi_458097.jpg) > “Richard Wagner, a musician who wrote music which is better than it sounds.” [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote humorously suggests that the composer's music exceeds its auditory quality, implying a disparity between reputation and actual sound. **In simple terms:** Music is praised more than it sounds. Key Takeaway Question the gap between reputation and reality. Themes art music reputation perception humor Mood wry reflective Type satirical observational When to use this quote - concert reviews - personal listening - media criticism - artistic legacy Key Concepts subjectivity critical listening self‑deprecation Questions to Reflect On - Does fame distort our judgment of art? - How do we separate hype from substance? A Different Perspective The statement may be taken as self‑deprecating, but could also undervalue genuine artistic merit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) ## Related quotes > [Richard Wagner: A composer whose music is better than it sounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/richard-wagner-a-composer-whose-music-is-better-than-it-sounds/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I can see Richard Wagner standing at the gates of heaven. ‘You have to let me in,’ he says. ‘I wrote Parsifal. It has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-can-see-richard-wagner-standing-at-the-gates-of-heaven-you-have-to-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If Richard Wagner lived today, he would probably work with film instead of music. He already knew back then that the 'Great Art Form'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harmony-korine/if-richard-wagner-lived-today-he-would-probably-work-with-film/) [Harmony Korine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harmony-korine/) > [Richard Wagner commenting on the music of Ludvig Van Beethoven: He was a Titan, wrestling with the Gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/richard-wagner-commenting-on-the-music-of-ludvig-van-beethoven-he-was/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [I hate you, Richard Wagner . . . but I hate you on my knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/i-hate-you-richard-wagner-but-i-hate-you-on-my-knees/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [“I can see Richard Wagner standing at the gates of heaven. "You have to let me in," he says. "I wrote Parsifal . It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-can-see-richard-wagner-standing-at-the-gates-of-heaven-you-have-to/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [You might say that Richard Wagner was the Queen Victoria of Europe. He had musical children everywhere!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zubin-mehta/you-might-say-that-richard-wagner-was-the-queen-victoria-of-europe-he/) [Zubin Mehta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zubin-mehta/) > [I like Wagner's music better than anybody's. It is so loud that one can talk the whole time without other people hearing what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-like-wagner-s-music-better-than-anybody-s-it-is-so-loud-that-one/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [They tell me Wagner's music is better than it sounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-wilson-nye/they-tell-me-wagner-s-music-is-better-than-it-sounds/) [Edgar Wilson Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-wilson-nye/) > [Wagner’s music is better than it sounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wagner-s-music-is-better-than-it-sounds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wagner manages to convey emotion with music better than anyone, before or since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/wagner-manages-to-convey-emotion-with-music-better-than-anyone-before/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [I like Wagner's music much better than anybody's. It's so loud that one can talk the whole time without people hearing you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/i-like-wagner-s-music-much-better-than-anybody-s-it-s-so-loud-that/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [“Richard Wagner once declared that civilization disappears before music like mist before the sun. he never dreamed that one day, for its part, music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/richard-wagner-once-declared-that-civilization-disappears-before/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“I know of only one composer who measures up to Beethoven, and that is Bruckner.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/i-know-of-only-one-composer-who-measures-up-to-beethoven-and-that-is/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [What a wonderful work Wagner has done for humanity in translating the toil of life into the readable script of music! For those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/what-a-wonderful-work-wagner-has-done-for-humanity-in-translating-the/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) ## More by Richard Wagner > [Joy is not in things; it is in us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/joy-is-not-in-things-it-is-in-us/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [My destiny is solitude, and my life is work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/my-destiny-is-solitude-and-my-life-is-work/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [In contrast to reincarnation and karma, all other views seem petty and narrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/in-contrast-to-reincarnation-and-karma-all-other-views-seem-petty-and/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [The oldest, truest, most beautiful organ of music, the origin to which alone our music owes its being, is the human voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/the-oldest-truest-most-beautiful-organ-of-music-the-origin-to-which/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [Any so-called stimulus program is a ruse. The government can increase its spending only by reducing private spending equivalently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/any-so-called-stimulus-program-is-a-ruse-the-government-can-increase/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/i-hate-this-fast-growing-tendency-to-chain-men-to-machines-in-big/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [What a wonderful work Wagner has done for humanity in translating the toil of life into the readable script of music! For those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/what-a-wonderful-work-wagner-has-done-for-humanity-in-translating-the/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [Here, everything is tragic through and through, and the will, that fain would shape a world according to its wish, at last can reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/here-everything-is-tragic-through-and-through-and-the-will-that-fain/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [The error in the art-genre of Opera consists herein: a Means of expression (Music) has been made the end, while the End of expression…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/the-error-in-the-art-genre-of-opera-consists-herein-a-means-of/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [I have only a mind to live, to enjoy - i.e., to work as an artist, and produce my works; but not for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/i-have-only-a-mind-to-live-to-enjoy-i-e-to-work-as-an-artist-and/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [...you know my faithfulness to you, never can another own my heart, never - never - never...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/you-know-my-faithfulness-to-you-never-can-another-own-my-heart-never/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [From its first faint glimmerings, History shews Man's constant progress as a beast of prey. As such he conquers every land, subdues the fruit-fed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/from-its-first-faint-glimmerings-history-shews-man-s-constant/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/when-religion-becomes-artificial-art-has-a-duty-to-rescue-it-art-can/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [The measures and acts which show us violently disposed towards the outer world can never stay without a violent reaction on ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/the-measures-and-acts-which-show-us-violently-disposed-towards-the/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [We find personal success and great, if not enduring, influence on the outer fashioning of the world allotted to the violent, the passionate individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/we-find-personal-success-and-great-if-not-enduring-influence-on-the/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) [Explore all 83 Richard Wagner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) Hubert Laws > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Richard Wagner, a musician who wrote music which is better than it sounds.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Wagner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-music-which-is-better-than-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-music-which-is-better-than-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/richard-wagner-7708_music_richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-musi_458097.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/richard-wagner-7708_music_richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-musi_458097.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c51/richard-wagner-7708_music_richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-musi_458097.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Richard Wagner, a musician who wrote music which is better than it sounds.” — Richard Wagner", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Wagner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Richard Wagner, a musician who wrote...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-music-which-is-better-than-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/richard-wagner-a-musician-who-wrote-music-which-is-better-than-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```