Jim Henson Quotes

I guess I was wrong when I said I never promised anyone. I promised me.

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered when wished on an evening star? Somebody thought of it and someone believed it, and look what its done so far.

There's not a word yet, for old friends who've just met.

I do remember doing shows strictly in black and white, too, so you're right.

The only way the magic works is by hard work. But hard work can be fun.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.

Actually the copies of characters is something I don't particularly like to talk about in articles but just for your information, most characters there's only one.

It has always been difficult to get Big Bird to be very pretty. Big Bird in England is much more gorgeous.

Do the jobs you like least first. It makes each successive job easier.

I don't know exactly where ideas come from, it's just a matter of us figuring out how to receive the ideas waiting to be heard.

Life is meant to be fun, and joyous, and fulfilling.

At the University of Maryland, my first year I started off planning to major in art because I was interested in theatre design, stage design or television design.

But with The Dark Crystal, instead of puppetry we're trying to go toward a sense of realism - toward a reality of creatures that are actually alive and we're mixing up puppetry and all kinds of other techniques.

When The Muppet Show ended, we all sat around and said, what kind of television show would we like to do. We felt the need these days are for some quality children's programming.

When I was a kid, I never saw a puppet show. I never played with puppets or had any interest in them.

Watch out for each other. Love everyone and forgive everyone, including yourself. Forgive your anger. Forgive your guilt. Your shame. Your sadness. Embrace and open up your love, your joy, your truth, and most especially your heart.

Nobody creates a fad. It just happens. People love going along with the idea of a beautiful pig. It’s like a conspiracy.

Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It's a good life, enjoy it.

We thought it would be fun to try to design a show that would work well internationally and so that' s what we're intending to do with Fraggle Rock, and we are indeed now selling it around the world.

I know I drive some people crazy with what seems like ridiculous optimism, but it has always worked for me.

Somebody like a Piggy or a Kermit, there needs to be several versions and so there will be several of them.

Only time can heal your broken heart. Just as only time can heal his broken arms and legs.

I hope that something better comes along.

The beauty of nature has been one of the great inspirations in my life.

The most sophisticated people I know - inside they are all children.

Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child you have stolen, for my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom as great. You have no power over me!

Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending. We've done just what we set out to do. Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers and you.

I think if you study--if you learn too much of what others have done, you may tend to take the same direction as everybody else.

I've always tried to present a positive view of the world in my work. It's so much easier to be negative and cynical and predict doom for the world than it is to try and figure out how to make things better. We have an obligation to do the latter.

I really do believe that all of you are at the beginning of a wonderful journey.As you start traveling down that road of life, remember this: There are never enough comfort stops. The places you're going to are never on the map. And once you get that map out, you won't be able to re-fold it no matter how smart you are. So forget the map, roll down the windows, and whenever you can pull over and have picnic with a pig. And if you can help it never fly as cargo.

I know it's easier to portray a world filled with cynicism and anger, where problems are solved with violence...It's an easy out. What's a whole lot tougher is to offer alternatives, to present other ways conflicts can be resolved, and to show you can have a positive impact on your world. To do that, you have to put yourself out on a limb, take chances, and run the risk of being called a do-gooder.

You're assisting the audience to understand; you're giving them a bridge or an access. And if you don't give them that, if you keep it more abstract, it's almost more pure. It's a cooler thing.

Cara: *Flies* Gen: What? I don't have wings! Cara: Ofcourse not! You're a boy.

All of a sudden you realise that you are the person who has control of your life.

I don't resent working long hours. I shouldn't- I'm the one who set up my life this way. I love to work. It's the thing that I get the most satisfaction out of-nd probably what I do best. Not that I don't enjoy days off. I love vacations and loafing around. But I think much of the world has the wrong idea of working. It's one of the good things in life. The feeling of accomplishment is more real and satisfying than finishing a good meal- or looking at one's accumulated wealth.