Stephen Sondheim quotes

Stephen Sondheim was an American composer and lyricist, renowned for his transformative influence on musical theatre. His works include celebrated musicals such as "Sweeney Todd," "Company," and "Into the Woods." He is widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in the history of Broadway. Here are 62 of his quotes:

Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos. (Stephen Sondheim)
I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
One difference between poetry and lyrics is that lyrics sort of fade into the background. They fade on the page and live on the stage when set to music. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
The dumbing down of the country reflects itself on Broadway. The shows get dumber, and the public gets used to them. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
The worst thing you can do is censor yourself as the pencil hits the paper. You must not edit until you get it all on paper. If you can put everything down, stream-of-consciousness, you'll do yourself a service. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
All the best performers bring to their role something more, something different than what the author put on paper. That's what makes theatre live. That's why it persists. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
Nice is different than good. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
I'm a lazy writer. My idea of heaven is not writing. On the other hand, I'm obviously compulsive about it. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
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. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
Oh if life were made of moments Even now and then a bad one--! But if life were only moments, Then you'd never know you had one. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
Sometimes people leave you Halfway through the wood Others may decieve you You decide what's good You decide alone But no one is alone. (Stephen Sondheim)
I love the theater as much as music, and the whole idea of getting across to an audience and making them laugh, making them cry - just making them feel - is paramount to me. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
If I cannot fly, let me sing. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
They all deserve to die. Even you, Mrs. Lovett Even I. Because the lives of the wicked should be made brief For the rest of us death would be relief. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
Work is what you do for others, liebchen. Art is what you do for yourself. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
The difference between a cow and a bean is a bean can begin an adventure. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
Without question, Steve is the best Broadway lyricist, past or present. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
The nice thing about doing a crossword puzzle is, you know there is a solution. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
I was raised to be charming, not sincere. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken; the choosing was not. You have to move on. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
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)
Math and music are intimately related. Not necessarily on a conscious level, but sure. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and create a suspension of disbelief, by which I mean there's no fourth wall. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
If you're dealing with a musical in which you're trying to tell a story, it's got to sound like speech. At the same time it's got to be a song. View quote
Stephen Sondheim
The more restrictions you have, the easier anything is to write. View quote
Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim - Image
Occupation: American Composer
Born: March 22, 1930
Died: November 26, 2021
Quotes count: 62
Wikipedia: Stephen Sondheim

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