A beginner composer appealed to Berlioz to give an assessment of his works. Berlioz, looking at them, told the young man:
Unfortunately, I have to say that you do not have minimal musical abilities. I don’t want to mislead you so that you can choose another profession before it’s too late.
When a sad young man, leaving the famous composer's apartment, had already gone out, Berlioz suddenly looked out the window and shouted:
The young man! Do not pay attention to what I said. For the sake of justice, I must confess to you that when I was your age, my teacher told me exactly the same thing.