Quick answer“Music is indeed the mediator between the spiritual and sensual life.” is a famous quote by Ludwig van Beethoven. It comes from As reported by Bettina von Arnim in a letter to Goethe (28 May 1810). It is widely quoted on wisdom. 'Music is indeed the mediator between the spiritual and sensual life.
'Music is indeed the mediator between the spiritual and sensual life.' The words are reported as Beethoven's by Bettina von Arnim, who wrote them to Goethe in a letter of 28 May 1810 — so they reach us second-hand, not in Beethoven's own writing.
Origin: Attributed to Beethoven by Bettina von Arnim in a letter to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe dated 28 May 1810, published in her Goethe's Correspondence with a Child (1835-1837). The words reach us second-hand, as Bettina's report of a conversation with Beethoven, not in his own writing. The popular form drops 'indeed' and adds 'the' before 'sensual life'.
Translated from German.
Key facts
| Quote | “Music is indeed the mediator between the spiritual and sensual life.” |
|---|---|
| Author | Ludwig van Beethoven |
| Source | As reported by Bettina von Arnim in a letter to Goethe (28 May 1810) |
| Theme | wisdom |
| Language | German (translation) |
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