Quote

Everyone tells tiny lies, what's important really is the size.

Stephen Sondheim

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Stephen Sondheim
Age: 94
Born: 1930
Born: March 22
Author
Composer
Dramaturge
Librettist
Lyricist
Musician
Poet
Screenwriter
Songwriter
New York City
New York
Stephen Joshua Sondheim
Important
Really
Tells
Tiny
Size
Lies
Lying
Everyone

More quotes by Stephen Sondheim

Image
A song is such a short form ... that 'the slightest flaw seems like a mountain.' And so every song needs to be revised 'til it's close to perfection... But achieving perfection takes a lot of energy.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
I'm sure many writers have these strange, tiny little habits.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
Into the woods--you have to grope, But that's the way you learn to cope. Into the woods to find there's hope Of getting through the journey.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
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
Image
With videotaping, on the second generation you're already losing some of the freshness.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
When you trance out properly, when you're completely in that world, there is no other world, so there's no conflict.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
Friendship, obligation and greed are not good enough reasons to write anything.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
Puzzles are like songs - A good puzzle can give you all the pleasure of being duped that a mystery story can. It has surface innocence, surprise, the revelation of a concealed meaning, and the catharsis of solution.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
Ah, but if you have no expectations, You can never have a disappointment.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
Anything you do, let it come from you. Then it will be new.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
I didn't really want to write just lyrics, but I wanted to meet Leonard Bernstein. Music was always the first reason I was writing songs.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
You get used to the exact amount of space between lines. You write a word and then you write an alternate word over it. You want enough room so you can read it, so the lines can't be too close.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
Math and music are intimately related. Not necessarily on a conscious level, but sure.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
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.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
No one has ever known me as clearly as you. No one has ever shown me that love allows everything. Not pretty or safe or easy but something I never knew. Love within reason, that isn't love and I learned that from you.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
They wanted me to be a concert pianist, because I had a very good right hand, but my left hand's terrible and I hated performing.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
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
Image
I really don't want to write a score until the whole show is cast and staged.
Stephen Sondheim
Image
TODD: The history of the world, my love -- LOVETT: Save a lot of graves, Do a lot of relatives favors! TODD: Is those below serving those up above! LOVETT: Ev'rybody shaves, So there should be plenty of flavors! TODD: How gratifying for once to know BOTH: That those above will serve those down below!
Stephen Sondheim