Top 69 Quotes by Stephen Sondheim

If you're dealing with a musical in which you're trying to tell a story, it's got to sound like speech. At the same time it's got to be a song.

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

Everyone I used to play with has either given up or is dead.

My idea of heaven is not writing.

When the song is part of the action and working as dialogue, even two minutes is way too long.

I have, by nature, an analytical mind.

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

When I was growing up, there was no such thing as Off-Broadway. You either got your show on or you didn't.

Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father during all those many days, and weeks and months when I didn't see my own father.