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.

Quote by Stephen Sondheim

Topics: Stephen Sondheim Quotes

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...

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...

Generally, the best recording is the original cast, because that's the way the piece grew:...

Generally, the best recording is the original cast, because that's the way the piece grew:...

I played the organ when I went to military school, when I was 10. They...

I played the organ when I went to military school, when I was 10. They...

Gotta watch out for directors.

Gotta watch out for directors.

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...

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...

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 was raised to be charming, not sincere.

I was raised to be charming, not sincere.

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...

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.

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

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...

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;...

Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months...

Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months...

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

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

I would have been a geologist.

I would have been a geologist.

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...

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.