Stephen Sondheim Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“The movie adaptations of stage musicals that I've seen, without exception, in my opinion don't work. A lot of people would disagree with me.”

“I'm interested in the theater because I'm interested in communication with audiences. Otherwise I would be in concert music.”

“After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to just entertainments in between comedy scenes.”

“I have inherited my father's sense of humour about myself. It's a lot more pleasant to make fun of yourself than when someone else does.”

“I played the organ when I went to military school, when I was 10. They had a huge organ, the second-largest pipe organ in New York State. I loved all the buttons and the gadgets. I've always been a gadget man.”

“Two of the hardest words in the language to rhyme are life and love. Of all words!”

“If people have split views about your work, I think it's flattering. I'd rather have them feel something about it than dismiss it.”

“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.”

“I think 'lunch' is one of the funniest words in the world.”

“One of the hardest things about writing lyrics is to make the lyrics sit on the music in such a way that you're not aware there was a writer there.”