Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

41 Famous Quotes By Stephen Sondheim, The Man Who Revolutionized Musicals

Famous As: American composer
Born On: March 22, 1930
Died On: November 26, 2021
Born In: New York City
Died At Age: 91
Stephen Sondheim is a distinguished American lyricist and composer. He has received a number of awards and accolades for his works, including eight ‘Grammy Awards,’ one ‘Academy Award,’ a ‘Pulitzer Prize,’ eight ‘Tony Awards,’ and the ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom,’ besides various others. His most renowned works as a lyricist and composer includes ‘Into the Woods,’ ‘A Little Night Music,’ ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,’ ‘Passion,’ ‘Follies,’ etc. Here is a collection of noteworthy and quotable quotes by Stephen Sondheim, which have been curated from his writings, views, experiences, interviews, opinions, songs, and life. Go through quotes by Stephen Sondheim that makes a great playlist. 
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If I cannot fly, let me sing.

If I cannot fly, let me sing.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Stephen Sondheim
At last, my arm is complete again

At last, my arm is complete again

Stephen Sondheim
There's a hole in the world like a big black pit who are filled with people who are filled with shit.

There's a hole in the world like a big black pit who are filled with people who are filled with shit.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stephen Sondheim
Work is what you do for others, liebchen. Art is what you do for yourself.

Work is what you do for others, liebchen. Art is what you do for yourself.

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

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
The difference between a cow and a bean is a bean can begin an adventure.

The difference between a cow and a bean is a bean can begin an adventure.

Stephen Sondheim
The dumbing down of the country reflects itself on Broadway. The shows get dumber, and the public gets used to them.

The dumbing down of the country reflects itself on Broadway. The shows get dumber, and the public gets used to them.

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.

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.

Stephen Sondheim
Nice is different than good.

Nice is different than good.

Stephen Sondheim
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.

Stephen Sondheim
I read to see myself in other people's lives.

I read to see myself in other people's lives.

Stephen Sondheim
Best to take the moment present
As a present for the moment

Best to take the moment present As a present for the moment

Stephen Sondheim
Slotted spoons don't hold much soup...

Slotted spoons don't hold much soup...

Stephen Sondheim
Now, this one might be a little stringy, but then again, it's fiddle player.

Now, this one might be a little stringy, but then again, it's fiddle player." That isn't fiddle player, it's piccolo player." How can you tell?" It's PIPING hot!" Then blow on it first!

Stephen Sondheim
Music straightjackets a poem and prevents it from breathing on its own, whereas it liberates a lyric. Poetry doesn't need music; lyrics do.

Music straightjackets a poem and prevents it from breathing on its own, whereas it liberates a lyric. Poetry doesn't need music; lyrics do.

Stephen Sondheim
Swing your razor wide! Sweeney, hold it to the skies!

Swing your razor wide! Sweeney, hold it to the skies!

Stephen Sondheim
Let Pirelli's / Miracle Elixir / Activate your roots, sir... 

Keep it off your boots, sir- / Eats right through. 

Yes, get Pirelli's! / Use a bottle of it! / Ladies seem to love it... 

Flies do, too!

Let Pirelli's / Miracle Elixir / Activate your roots, sir... Keep it off your boots, sir- / Eats right through. Yes, get Pirelli's! / Use a bottle of it! / Ladies seem to love it... Flies do, too!

Stephen Sondheim
It's not so much do what you like as it is that you like what you do.

It's not so much do what you like as it is that you like what you do.

Stephen Sondheim
Children can only grow from something you love to something you lose.

Children can only grow from something you love to something you lose.

Stephen Sondheim
Having just the vision's no solution, everything depends on execution

Having just the vision's no solution, everything depends on execution

Stephen Sondheim
Unless the object of the singer’s affection is a vampire, surely what Hart means is unphotogenic. Only vampires are unphotographable, but affectionate ‘-enic’ rhymes are hard to come by.

Unless the object of the singer’s affection is a vampire, surely what Hart means is unphotogenic. Only vampires are unphotographable, but affectionate ‘-enic’ rhymes are hard to come by.

Stephen Sondheim
The man i'll never be,
Who remembers him?

The man i'll never be, Who remembers him?

Stephen Sondheim
Anything you do, let it come from you. Then it will be new. Give us more to see...

Anything you do, let it come from you. Then it will be new. Give us more to see...

Stephen Sondheim
I was watching him crawl,
Back over the wall-!
Then bang! Crash!
And the lightning flash!
And- well, that's another story,
Never mind-
Anyway...

I was watching him crawl, Back over the wall-! Then bang! Crash! And the lightning flash! And- well, that's another story, Never mind- Anyway...

Stephen Sondheim
It's your father's fault that the curse got placed and the place got cursed in the first place.

It's your father's fault that the curse got placed and the place got cursed in the first place.

Stephen Sondheim