- Gustav von Aschenbach: I remember we had one of these in my father's house. The aperture through which the sand runs is so tiny that... that first it seems as if the level in the upper glass never changes. To our eyes it appears that the sand runs out only... only at the end... and until it does, it's not worth thinking about... 'til the last moment... when there's no more time left to think about it.
- Gustav von Aschenbach: You know sometimes I think that artists are rather like hunters aiming in the dark. They don't know what their target is, and they don't know if they've hit it. But you can't expect life to illuminate the target and steady your aim. The creation of beauty and purity is a spiritual act.
- Alfred: No Gustav, no. Beauty belongs to the senses. Only to the senses.
- Alfred: Wisdom. Truth. Human Dignity. All finished! Now there is no reason why you cannot go to your grave with your music.
- Alfred: You have achieved perfect balance: the man and the artist are one. They have touched bottom together.
- Alfred: You never possessed chastity. Chastity is the gift of purity not the painful result of old age and you are *old* Gustav.
- Gustav von Aschenbach: You cannot reach the spirit with the senses. You cannot. It's only by complete domination of the senses that you can ever achieve wisdom, truth, and human dignity.
- Gustav von Aschenbach: Madame, will you permit an entire stranger, to serve you with a word of advice and warning, which self-interests prevents others from saying. Go away! Go away, immediately. Don't delay. Please, I beg you.
- Gustav von Aschenbach: I've been trying to find out, no one will tell me the truth, they are disinfecting Venice. Do you know why?
- Travel Agent: Week by week there are more deaths. It's quite impossible to count the number of the dead.
- Travel Agent: Well, people all know, of course, they are terrified. But, they're silent. And do you know why? Summer! Tourists! The whole business of Venice is tourists. Can you imagine Venice without tourists? Well, it would be more desolate than in the winter.
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