THE LETTERS OF RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

Dorking.

Oct 19 [1942]

Dear Arnold

I was much moved by your generous letter.¹ If I have helped to “lead” music & musicians at all then my 70 years have not been altogether wasted.
You must not call yourself a “hack” musician – it is just what you are not. You have genius and power – but your genius does not run on routine lines – & for that reason you have never found a post worthy of your great powers.
Yrs

RVW

Give my love to Jo.

1. Of congratulations on VW’s 70th birthday.