My mother wanted me off her hands. She was a working woman. She designed clothes, and she was a celebrity collector. It's my mother's ambition to be a celebrity.

Quote by Stephen Sondheim

Topics: Stephen Sondheim Quotes

There's something inimical about the camera and song.

There's something inimical about the camera and song.

If people have split views about your work, I think it's flattering. I'd rather have...

If people have split views about your work, I think it's flattering. I'd rather have...

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.

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.

The fact is popular art dates. It grows quaint. How many people feel strongly about...

The fact is popular art dates. It grows quaint. How many people feel strongly about...

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;...

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.

Gotta watch out for directors.

Gotta watch out for directors.

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

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

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...

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

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

I was raised to be charming, not sincere.

I was raised to be charming, not sincere.

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...

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

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

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...

If you're dealing with a musical in which you're trying to tell a story, it's...

If you're dealing with a musical in which you're trying to tell a story, it's...

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...

After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to...

After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to...

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.

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

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