Stephen Sondheim Quotes

Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Stephen Sondheim

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Stephen Sondheim Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Stephen Sondheim on Wise Famous Quotes.

Stephen Sondheim quotes: I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it. I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Generally, the best recording is the original cast, because that's the way the piece grew: integrally, with them. Generally, the best recording is the original cast, because that's the way the piece grew: integrally, with them.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I was essentially trained by Oscar Hammerstein to think of songs as one-act plays, to move a song from point A to point B dramatically. I was essentially trained by Oscar Hammerstein to think of songs as one-act plays, to move a song from point A to point B dramatically.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in the song. I'm always conscious of what I'm writing, conscious of what the actor may ask me. I have a defense for nearly every line in the song.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else does. I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else does.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: When you know your cast well and their strengths and weaknesses, you can start writing for them, just the way Shakespeare wrote for his actors. When you know your cast well and their strengths and weaknesses, you can start writing for them, just the way Shakespeare wrote for his actors.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Writing is a form of mischief. Writing is a form of mischief.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Hit songs did not come out of musicals. Pop-rock was creating the hits. There were very few songs that made the charts out of any Broadway musical. Hit songs did not come out of musicals. Pop-rock was creating the hits. There were very few songs that made the charts out of any Broadway musical.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: It takes almost as much imagination to justify what you write as it does to write it. It takes almost as much imagination to justify what you write as it does to write it.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Any moment, big or small, Is a moment, after all. Seize the moment, skies may fall Any moment. Any moment, big or small, Is a moment, after all. Seize the moment, skies may fall Any moment.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Sometimes I'll ask the book writer to write a monologue, not to be performed, just as if they were notes for the character. Sometimes I'll ask the book writer to write a monologue, not to be performed, just as if they were notes for the character.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: With videotaping, on the second generation you're already losing some of the freshness. With videotaping, on the second generation you're already losing some of the freshness.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Success is like failure, It's how you perceive it, It's what you do with it, not how you achieve it. Success is like failure, It's how you perceive it, It's what you do with it, not how you achieve it.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I didn't really want to write just lyrics, but I wanted to meet Leonard Bernstein. Music was always the first reason I was writing songs. I didn't really want to write just lyrics, but I wanted to meet Leonard Bernstein. Music was always the first reason I was writing songs.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Teaching is a sacred profession. And art is a form of teaching. Teaching is a sacred profession. And art is a form of teaching.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I started listening to classical music when I was in my early teens. Prior to that, I listened to pop records or band records. I started listening to classical music when I was in my early teens. Prior to that, I listened to pop records or band records.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Art is craft, not inspiration. Art is craft, not inspiration.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Work is what you do for others, liebchen. Art is what you do for yourself. Work is what you do for others, liebchen. Art is what you do for yourself.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I don't find my life that interesting. The shows, maybe. But not me. I don't find my life that interesting. The shows, maybe. But not me.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart. Perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to just entertainments in between comedy scenes. After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to just entertainments in between comedy scenes.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: You have to be submitted for the Pulitzer, and unbeknownst to us, a choral director whom I know had submitted us. You have to be submitted for the Pulitzer, and unbeknownst to us, a choral director whom I know had submitted us.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: White. A blank page or canvas. The challenge. Bring order to the whole Through design, composition, tension, balance, light, and harmony. White. A blank page or canvas. The challenge. Bring order to the whole Through design, composition, tension, balance, light, and harmony.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: For me it's more fun to find an unexpected moment for a character to sing when you don't expect them to. For me it's more fun to find an unexpected moment for a character to sing when you don't expect them to.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Math and music are intimately related. Not necessarily on a conscious level, but sure. Math and music are intimately related. Not necessarily on a conscious level, but sure.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: One of the hardest things about writing lyrics is to make the lyrics sit on the music in such a way that you're not aware there was a writer there. One of the hardest things about writing lyrics is to make the lyrics sit on the music in such a way that you're not aware there was a writer there.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: You can't have personal investors anymore because it's too expensive, so you have to have corporate investment or a lot of rich people. You can't have personal investors anymore because it's too expensive, so you have to have corporate investment or a lot of rich people.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I've always liked puzzles, since I was a kid. I like party games, silly games. I loved chess. I enjoy jigsaw puzzles, but I'm not particularly visual. I've always liked puzzles, since I was a kid. I like party games, silly games. I loved chess. I enjoy jigsaw puzzles, but I'm not particularly visual.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: A folktale without a moral is merely a whimsy. A folktale without a moral is merely a whimsy.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: The more you cling to things, The more you love them, The more the pain you suffer, When they're taken from you ... The more you cling to things, The more you love them, The more the pain you suffer, When they're taken from you ...
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I do not hope for what I cannot have! I do not cling to things I cannot keep! I do not hope for what I cannot have! I do not cling to things I cannot keep!
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken; the choosing was not. You have to move on. I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken; the choosing was not. You have to move on.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten. Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos. Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: You're so nice. You're not good, you're not bad, You're just nice. I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right. I'm the witch. You're the world. You're so nice. You're not good, you're not bad, You're just nice. I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right. I'm the witch. You're the world.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: The nice thing about doing a crossword puzzle is, you know there is a solution. The nice thing about doing a crossword puzzle is, you know there is a solution.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: When I'm writing a song, I try to be the character. When I'm writing a song, I try to be the character.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: They wanted me to be a concert pianist, because I had a very good right hand, but my left hand's terrible and I hated performing. They wanted me to be a concert pianist, because I had a very good right hand, but my left hand's terrible and I hated performing.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Having just the vision's no solution, everything depends on execution Having just the vision's no solution, everything depends on execution
Stephen Sondheim quotes: They hear drums, we hear music. They hear drums, we hear music.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: The movie adaptations of stage musicals that I've seen, without exception, in my opinion don't work. A lot of people would disagree with me. The movie adaptations of stage musicals that I've seen, without exception, in my opinion don't work. A lot of people would disagree with me.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: The Tonys ignored West Side Story. The Tonys ignored Gypsy. It's a kind of public humiliation. The Tonys ignored West Side Story. The Tonys ignored Gypsy. It's a kind of public humiliation.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: The more restrictions you have, the easier anything is to write. The more restrictions you have, the easier anything is to write.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: In not-for-profit theater, you don't worry so much about how the audience is going to react. You want to make them absorb the piece. In not-for-profit theater, you don't worry so much about how the audience is going to react. You want to make them absorb the piece.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I think 'lunch' is one of the funniest words in the world. I think 'lunch' is one of the funniest words in the world.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I took piano lessons when I was 6. I didn't want to go on with it. I don't remember being moved by a piece of music. I took piano lessons when I was 6. I didn't want to go on with it. I don't remember being moved by a piece of music.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: When the song is part of the action and working as dialogue, even two minutes is way too long. When the song is part of the action and working as dialogue, even two minutes is way too long.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: The art of making art, is putting it together ... The art of making art, is putting it together ...
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the language is too rich. You get drowned in it. Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the language is too rich. You get drowned in it.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: It should be interesting to see two entirely different ways to treat a story, geared for two entirely different kinds of audience. It should be interesting to see two entirely different ways to treat a story, geared for two entirely different kinds of audience.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Children can only grow from something you love to something you lose. Children can only grow from something you love to something you lose.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Pointillism takes emotional images, character, etc., and makes them all come together and make a whole that tells a story. Pointillism takes emotional images, character, etc., and makes them all come together and make a whole that tells a story.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star. Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Ah, but if you have no expectations, You can never have a disappointment. Ah, but if you have no expectations, You can never have a disappointment.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Sometimes colleagues in performance are absolutely astonishing. Sometimes colleagues in performance are absolutely astonishing.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I don't listen to recordings of my songs. I don't avoid it, I just don't go out of my way to do it. I don't listen to recordings of my songs. I don't avoid it, I just don't go out of my way to do it.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: If I cannot fly, let me sing. If I cannot fly, let me sing.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Everyone I used to play with has either given up or is dead. Everyone I used to play with has either given up or is dead.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Music is structure out of Chaos Music is structure out of Chaos
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I really don't want to write a score until the whole show is cast and staged. I really don't want to write a score until the whole show is cast and staged.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: The truth is that I don't like rehearsals. I get embarrassed hearing my own work. I assume that the cast is embarrassed to sing the stuff. The truth is that I don't like rehearsals. I get embarrassed hearing my own work. I assume that the cast is embarrassed to sing the stuff.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: So many good songs get written fast, because you know exactly what has to work. So many good songs get written fast, because you know exactly what has to work.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: My cage has many rooms. My cage has many rooms.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I happen to like movies and plays about dislikeable people as long as I get to know why they are what they are. I happen to like movies and plays about dislikeable people as long as I get to know why they are what they are.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Stay a child while you can be a child. Stay a child while you can be a child.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I certainly wanted my name in lights. I wanted my name on a marquee. I wanted recognition on Broadway. I certainly wanted my name in lights. I wanted my name on a marquee. I wanted recognition on Broadway.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: If people have split views about your work, I think it's flattering. I'd rather have them feel something about it than dismiss it. If people have split views about your work, I think it's flattering. I'd rather have them feel something about it than dismiss it.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Gotta watch out for directors. Gotta watch out for directors.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: The only reason to write is from love. The only reason to write is from love.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Math was my big interest when I was in prep school. I was considering taking math in college, and majoring in it. Math was my big interest when I was in prep school. I was considering taking math in college, and majoring in it.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: White. A blank page or canvas. So many possibilities. White. A blank page or canvas. So many possibilities.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Deciding what is to be sung and what is not to be sung is really what writing a musical is about. Deciding what is to be sung and what is not to be sung is really what writing a musical is about.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Music straightjackets a poem and prevents it from breathing on its own, whereas it liberates a lyric. Poetry doesn't need music; lyrics do. Music straightjackets a poem and prevents it from breathing on its own, whereas it liberates a lyric. Poetry doesn't need music; lyrics do.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Two of the hardest words in the language to rhyme are life and love. Of all words! Two of the hardest words in the language to rhyme are life and love. Of all words!
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Almost all the shows I've been connected with have been extremely well cast. They're playing the show, not just doing the songs. Almost all the shows I've been connected with have been extremely well cast. They're playing the show, not just doing the songs.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: We lose things.And then we choose things.And there are Louis'sAnd there are Georges-Well, Louis'sAnd George. We lose things.
And then we choose things.
And there are Louis's
And there are Georges-
Well, Louis's
And George.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: My main goal is to tell a story. My main goal is to tell a story.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Friendship, obligation and greed are not good enough reasons to write anything. Friendship, obligation and greed are not good enough reasons to write anything.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Anything that is white is sweet.Anything that is brown is meat.Anything that is grey, don't eat. Anything that is white is sweet.
Anything that is brown is meat.
Anything that is grey, don't eat.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Take a play that you like but you think is flawed, and see if you can improve it and turn it into a musical. Then make up your own story. Take a play that you like but you think is flawed, and see if you can improve it and turn it into a musical. Then make up your own story.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: It's your father's fault that the curse got placed and the place got cursed in the first place. It's your father's fault that the curse got placed and the place got cursed in the first place.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: By the time I was 22, I was a professional. A young and flawed professional, but not an amateur. By the time I was 22, I was a professional. A young and flawed professional, but not an amateur.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: You move just a finger, say the slightest word, something's bound to linger-be heard. You move just a finger, say the slightest word, something's bound to linger-be heard.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I like murder mysteries, the Agatha Christie kinds of things where you know that it's all going to be neatly wound up at the end. I like murder mysteries, the Agatha Christie kinds of things where you know that it's all going to be neatly wound up at the end.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Everyone tells tiny lies, what's important really is the size. Everyone tells tiny lies, what's important really is the size.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: The situation's fraught, Fraughter than I thought, With horrible, impossible possibilities! The situation's fraught, Fraughter than I thought, With horrible, impossible possibilities!
Stephen Sondheim quotes: At last, my arm is complete again At last, my arm is complete again
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Best to take the moment present as a present for the moment ... Best to take the moment present as a present for the moment ...
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I don't write songs apart from theatrical pieces. I'm not interested in writing songs qua songs. I don't write songs apart from theatrical pieces. I'm not interested in writing songs qua songs.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Some of us don't like the way you've been telling it. Some of us don't like the way you've been telling it.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months when I didn't see my own father. Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months when I didn't see my own father.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor. Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: To wish and wait From day to day Will never keep The wolves away. To wish and wait From day to day Will never keep The wolves away.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: My idea of heaven is not writing. My idea of heaven is not writing.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I'm a great audience. I cry very easily. I suspend disbelief in two seconds. I'm a great audience. I cry very easily. I suspend disbelief in two seconds.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: There's something inimical about the camera and song. There's something inimical about the camera and song.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it takes that much money to put a show on. Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it takes that much money to put a show on.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: In the Rodgers and Hammerstein generation, popular hits came out of shows and movies. In the Rodgers and Hammerstein generation, popular hits came out of shows and movies.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: I'm a lazy writer. My idea of heaven is not writing. On the other hand, I'm obviously compulsive about it. I'm a lazy writer. My idea of heaven is not writing. On the other hand, I'm obviously compulsive about it.
Stephen Sondheim quotes: There's a hole in the world like a big black pit who are filled with people who are filled with shit. There's a hole in the world like a big black pit who are filled with people who are filled with shit.

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