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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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

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

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:...

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.

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.

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

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

I was raised to be charming, not sincere.

I was raised to be charming, not sincere.

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.

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...

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

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

Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.

Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.

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;...

Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and...

Musicals are, by nature, theatrical, meaning poetic, meaning having to move the audience's imagination and...

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...