Quotes by Stephen Sondheim

“I was raised to be charming, not sincere.”

“Nice is different than good.”

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.

Music straightjackets a poem and prevents it from breathing on its own, whereas it liberates a lyric. Poetry doesnt need music; lyrics do.

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, youll do yourself a service.

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

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

If I cannot fly, let me sing.

Music blows lyrics up very quickly, and suddenly they become more than art. They become pompous and they become self-conscious ... I firmly believe that lyrics have to breathe and give the audiences ear a chance to understand whats going on. Particularly in the theater, where you not only have the music, but youve got costume, story, acting, orchestra. Theres a lot to take in.

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

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

I chose and my world was shaken, so what? The choice may have been mistaken, the choosing was not.

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.

Automobile in America,Chromium steel in America,Wire-spoke wheel in America,Very big deal in America!Immigrant goes to America,Many hellos in America,Nobody knows in America,Puerto Ricos in America!I like the shores of America!Comfort is yours in America!Knobs on the doors in America!Wall-to-wall floors in America!

Alright! You sir, you sir, how about a shave?Come and visit your good friend Sweeney.You sir, too sir? Welcome to the grave.I will have vengenance.I will have salvation.Who sir, you sir?No ones in the chair, Come on! Come on!Sweeneys. waiting. I want you bleeders.You sir! Anybody!Gentlemen now dont be shy!Not one man, no, nor ten men.Nor a hundred can assuage me.I will have you!And I will get him back even as he gloatsIn the meantime Ill practice on less honorable throats.And my Lucy lies in ashesAnd Ill never see my girl again.But the work waits!Im alive at last!And Im full of joy!

Though its fearful, Though its deep, though its dark And though you may lose the path, Though you may encounter wolves, You cant just act, You have to listen. you cant just act, You have to think. Though its dark, There are always wolves, There are always spells, There are always beans, Or a giant dwells there. So into the woods you go again, You have to every now and then. Into the woods, no telling when, Be ready for the journey. Into the woods, but not too fast or what you wish, you lose at last. Into the woods, but mind the past. Into the woods, but mind the future. Into the woods, but not to stray, Or tempt the wolf, or steal from the giant-- The way is dark, The light is dim, But now theres you, me, her, and him. The chances look small, The choices look grim, But everything you learn there Will help when you return there. The light is getting dimmer.. I think I see a glimmer-- Into the woods--you have to grope, But thats the way you learn to cope. Into the woods to find theres hope Of getting through the journey. Into the woods, each time you go, Theres more to learn of what you know. Into the woods, but not too slow-- Into the woods, its nearing midnight-- Into the woods to mind the wolf, To heed the witch, to honor the giant, To mind, to heed, to find, to think, to teach, to join, to go to the Festival! Into the woods, Into the woods, Into the woods, Then out of the woods-- And happy ever after!

Was that me? Yes it was. Was that him? No it wasnt.. Just a trick of the woods! Just a moment, One peculiar passing moment. Must it all be either less or more, Either plain or grand? Is it always or? Is it never and? Thats what woods are for: For those moments in the woods... Oh, if life were made of moments, Even now and then a bad one--! But if life were only moments, Then youd never know you had one. First a witch, then a child, then a Prince, then a moment-- Who can live in the woods? And to get what you wish, only just for a moment-- These are dangerous woods.. Let the moment go.. Dont forget it for a moment, though. Just remembering you had an and, when youre back to or, Makes the or mean more than is did before. Now I understand--And its time to leave the woods.

Must it all be either less or more,Either plain or grand?Is it always or?Is it never and?Thats what woods are for:For those moments in the woods...Oh, if life were made of moments,Even now and then a bad one--!But if life were only moments,Then youd never know you had one....to get what you wish, only just for a moment--These are dangerous woods!Let the moment go...Dont forget it for a moment, though.Just remembering you had an and, when youre back to or,Makes the or mean more than is did before.Now I understand--And its time to leave the woods.

A folktale without a moral is merely a whimsy.

Musical comedies arent written they are re-written.