I'm a lazy writer. My idea of heaven is not writing. On the other hand, I'm obviously compulsive about it.

I don't write songs apart from theatrical pieces. I'm not interested in writing songs qua songs.

Oh if life were made of moments Even now and then a bad one--! But if life were only moments, Then you'd never know you had one.

Oscar Hammerstein was a surrogate father. I liked my father a lot, he was a swell fellow, but I didn’t see him very often because my mother was bitter about him and did everything she could to prevent me from seeing him.

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

They all deserve to die. Even you, Mrs. Lovett Even I. Because the lives of the wicked should be made brief For the rest of us death would be relief.

Can't we just pursue our lives With our children and our wives Till that happy day arrives How do you ignore All the witches All the curses All the wolves, all the lies The false hopes, the goodbyes . . .