“Great music is a psychical storm, agitating to fathomless depths the mystery of the past within us.”

— Paul Elmer More

Lafcadio Hearn http://books.google.com/books?id=_DcRAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Great+music+is+a+psychical+storm+agitating+to+fathomless+depths+the+mystery+of+the+past+within+us%22&pg=PA210#v=onepage, The Atlantic Monthly (February 1903)
Republished in Shelburne Essays http://books.google.com/books?id=2OMuAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Great+music+is+a+psychical+storm+agitating+to+fathomless+depths+the+mystery+of+the+past+within+us%22&pg=PA64#v=onepage, volume 2 (1905)

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Paul Elmer More 1

American journalist, critic, essayist and Christian apologi… 1864–1937

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“We dream of travels throughout the universe: is not the universe within us? We do not know the depths of our spirit. The mysterious path leads within. In us, or nowhere, lies eternity with its worlds, the past and the future.”

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Variant translations:
We dream of a journey through the universe. But is the universe then not in us? We do not know the depths of our spirit. Inward goes the secret path. Eternity with its worlds, the past and the future, is in us or nowhere.
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We dream of journeys through the cosmos — Is the cosmos not then in us? We do not know the depths of our own spirit. — The mysterious path leads within. In us, or nowhere, is eternity with its worlds — the past and the future.
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“The light of truth burns without a flicker in the depths of a house that is shaken with storms of passion and fear.”

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“Q: What great singers of the past do you wish had sung your music?”

Fred Astaire (1899–1987) American dancer, singer, actor, choreographer and television presenter

“Music should humbly seek to please; within these limits great beauty may perhaps be found.”

Claude Debussy (1862–1918) French composer

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“Great music is a psychical storm, agitating to fathomless depths the mystery of the past within us.”

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