From reading "Beethoven the Creator" by Romain Rolland, I am convinced that Beethoven rated the Eroica as the best of his first eight symphonies. I also get the impression from other readings that Beethoven felt the Ninth was his greatest symphony. So a likely order begins with Nine, Three, ... but then what? The Fifth perhaps? I would really be curious to see how he ranked all nine of them. Any thoughts, ideas, speculations?