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September 16 1812: Beethoven Tyrant



On September 16, 1812, Beethoven writes to Amalie Sebald, a singer from Berlin.  

Teplitz, September 16, 1812. 
For Amalie von Sebald: 

Tyrant — I? Your tyrant? Only a misapprehension can lead you to say this even if your judgment of me indicated no agreement of thought with me! But no blame to you on this account; it is rather a piece of good fortune for you — yesterday I was not wholly well, since this morning I have grown worse; something indigestible was the cause, and the irascible part of me appears to seize upon the bad as well as the good; but do not apply this to my moral nature; people say nothing, they are only people; they generally see only themselves in others, and that is nothing; away with this, the good, the beautiful needs no people. It is here without help and that, after all, appears to be the reason of our agreement. Farewell, dear Amalie; if the moon shines brighter for me this evening than the sun by day you will see with you the least of men. 

Your friend 

Beethoven. 

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