Rossini would have been a great composer if his teacher had spanked him enough on the backside.
Source: Of Rossini by Ludwig von Beethoven; In The Guinness Book of Poisonous Quotes, ed. Colin Jarman.
-- Gioacchino Rossini, (Feb 1 1792-1868), Italian opera composer; He wrote 39 operas including The Barber of Seville, 1816 and William Tell, 1929.