A young man, just beginning the study of musical composition, once went to Mozart and asked him the formula for developing the theme of a symphony. Mozart suggested that a symphony was rather an ambitious project for a beginner: perhaps the young man might better try his hand at something simpler first. 'But you were writing symphonies when you were my age.' the student protested. 'Yes, but I didn’t have to ask how---James Keller,Roman Catholic priest.
一个刚开始学习谱曲的年轻人有次询问莫扎特如何确定交响乐的主题。莫扎特说交响乐对初学者来说过于复杂,他更适合从简单些的东西开始。年轻人抗议道:但是你在我这个年龄时已经在写交响乐了。莫扎特回答说:是的,但是我不需要去问别人怎么做。