Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Whom did they choose?Antonio Salieri: Herr Zummer.Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Herr Zummer? But the man's a fool, he's a total mediocrity!Antonio Salieri: No, no, he has yet to achieve mediocrity.
Emperor Joseph II: My dear young man, don't take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The whole thing is set in a harem, Majesty. In a seraglio.Count Orsini-Rosenberg: You mean in Turkey?Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Yes, exactly.Count Orsini-Rosenberg: Then why especially does it have to be in German?Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: It doesn't, especially. It could be in Turkish if you really want.
Emanuel Schikaneder: Look, I asked you if we could start rehearsals next week and you said yes.Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Well, we can.Emanuel Schikaneder: So let me see it. Where is it?Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Here. It's all right here in my noodle. The rest is just scribbling. Scribbling and bibbling, bibbling and scribbling.