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.

Quote by Stephen Sondheim

Topics: 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.

Every writer I've ever spoken to feels fraudulent in some way or other.

Every writer I've ever spoken to feels fraudulent in some way or other.

When the audience comes in, it changes the temperature of what you've written.

When the audience comes in, it changes the temperature of what you've written.

I don't listen to recordings of my songs. I don't avoid it, I just don't...

I don't listen to recordings of my songs. I don't avoid it, I just don't...

I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.

I fell into lyric writing because of music. I backed into it.

My mother wanted me off her hands. She was a working woman. She designed clothes,...

My mother wanted me off her hands. She was a working woman. She designed clothes,...

By the time I was 22, I was a professional. A young and flawed professional,...

By the time I was 22, I was a professional. A young and flawed professional,...

Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the...

Lyrics have to be underwritten. That's why poets generally make poor lyric writers because the...

I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken;...

I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken;...

Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it...

Nowadays, there are sometimes more producers than there are people in the cast, because it...

The more restrictions you have, the easier anything is to write.

The more restrictions you have, the easier anything is to write.

The movie adaptations of stage musicals that I've seen, without exception, in my opinion don't...

The movie adaptations of stage musicals that I've seen, without exception, in my opinion don't...

All the best performers bring to their role something more, something different than what the...

All the best performers bring to their role something more, something different than what the...

When I was growing up, there was no such thing as Off-Broadway. You either got...

When I was growing up, there was no such thing as Off-Broadway. You either got...

I firmly believe lyrics have to breathe and give the audience's ear a chance to...

I firmly believe lyrics have to breathe and give the audience's ear a chance to...

A close-up on screen can say all a song can.

A close-up on screen can say all a song can.

I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.

I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.

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.

I really don't want to write a score until the whole show is cast and...

I really don't want to write a score until the whole show is cast and...

You can't have personal investors anymore because it's too expensive, so you have to have...

You can't have personal investors anymore because it's too expensive, so you have to have...