Stephen Schwartz Quotes & Sayings

I would like to have won a Tony, I guess, because I have always thought of myself as a theater person. But I've won my share of awards, so I don't worry about it. — Stephen Schwartz

Every project has challenges, and every project has its rewards. — Stephen Schwartz

Often we treat certain aspects of ourselves as junk, having no value. We try to throw parts of ourselves in the garbage. But a human being is an ecosystem, and everything in that system is of value to the whole. — Stephen Schwartz

Now no one can be the slave of two masters — Stephen Schwartz

What we do in our lives is what gives us contentment and serenity and makes us feel like we are doing some kind of contribution. — Stephen Schwartz

Every so often we long to steal to the land of what-might-have-been. But that doesn't soften the ache we feel when reality sets back in. — Stephen Schwartz

I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led to those who help us most to grow
If we let them and we help them in return. — Stephen Schwartz

What?"
"Nothing, it's just ... you've been 'Galinda-fied'. You don't have to do that, you know? — Stephen Schwartz

People like the way dreams have of sticking to the soul. — Stephen Schwartz

On the surface, 'Book of Mormon' is extremely irreverent, but underneath, there's a great sweetness and a very positive message. — Stephen Schwartz

Some things I cannot change, but 'til I try I'll never know. — Stephen Schwartz

Fiyero: "Why is it that every time I see you, you're causing some sort of commotion?"
Elphaba: "I don't cause commotions, I am one."
Fiyero: "That's for sure."
Elphaba: "Oh! So you think I should just keep my mouth shut! Is that what you're saying?"
Fiyero: "No, I'm ..."
Elphaba: "Do you think I want to be this way? Do you think I want to care this much? Don't you know how much easier my life would be if I didn't?"
Fiyero: "Do you ever let anyone else talk?"
Elphaba: "Oh, sorry ... But can I just say one more thing? You could have just walked away back there."
Fiyero: "So?"
Elphaba: "So, no matter how shallow and self-absorbed you tend to be ..."
Fiyero: "Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow."
Elphaba: "No you're not. Or you wouldn't be so unhappy. — Stephen Schwartz

Popular,
You're gonna be
Popular!
I'll teach you the proper ploys
when you talk to boys!
Little ways to flirt
and flounce!
I'll show you what shoes to wear,
how to fix your hair,
everything that really counts,
to be
POPULAR!! — Stephen Schwartz

I don't know if You can hear me,
Or if You're even there,
I don't know if You will listen
To a gypsy's prayer,
Yes, I know I'm just an outcast,
I shouldn't speak to You
But still I see Your face and wonder
Were You once an outcast too? — Stephen Schwartz

Are people born wicked, or is wickedness trust upon them? — Stephen Schwartz

Both: "There's been some confusion for you see my roommate is ..."
Galinda: "Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether quite impossible to describe."
Elphaba: "... Blonde. — Stephen Schwartz

There can be miracles
when you believe
Though hope is frail
It's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles
You can achieve?
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe — Stephen Schwartz

Don't wish. Don't Start. Wishing only wounds the heart. — Stephen Schwartz

Its time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap — Stephen Schwartz

I think the arts are very important for children growing up. — Stephen Schwartz

Cause getting your dreams
It's strange, but it seems
A little
well
complicated
There's a kind of a sort of : cost
There's a couple of things get : lost
There are bridges you cross
You didn't know you crossed
Until you've crossed. — Stephen Schwartz

And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free — Stephen Schwartz

Like a comet pulled from orbit,
As it passes a sun.
Like a stream that meets a boulder,
Halfway through the wood.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you,
I have been changed for good

It well may be,
That we will never meet again,
In this lifetime.
So let me say before we part,
So much of me,
Is made of what I learned from you.
You'll be with me,
Like a handprint on my heart.
And now whatever way our stories end,
I know you have re-written mine,
By being my friend...

Like a ship blown from its mooring,
By a wind off the sea.
Like a seed dropped by a skybird,
In a distant wood.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you,
Because I knew you,
I have been changed for good. — Stephen Schwartz

We can't all come and go by Bubble! — Stephen Schwartz

GLINDA: Well,I'm a public figure now! People expect me to
ELPHABA: Lie?
GLINDA: (fiercely) Be encouraging! And what exactly have you been doing? Besides riding on around on that filthy thing!
ELPHABA: Well, we can't all come and go by bubble. Whose invention was that, the Wizard's? Of course, even if it wasn't, I'm sure he'd still take credit for it.
GLINDA: Yes, well, a lot of us are taking things that don't belong to us, aren't we?
Uh oh! The two stare daggers at each other, then ...
ELPHABA: Now, wait just a clock-tick. I know it's difficult for that blissful blonde brain of yours to comprehend that someone like him could actually choose someone like me!But it's happened. It's real. And you can wave that ridiculous wand all you want, you can't change it! He never belonged to you
he doesn't love you, he never did! He loves me! — Stephen Schwartz

And Goodness knows The Wicked's lives are lonely Goodness knows The Wicked die alone — Stephen Schwartz

So if you care to find me/ Look to the western sky/ As someone told me lately/ Everyone deserves the chance to fly!/ And if I'm flying solo/ At least I'm flying free/ Tell those who'd ground me/ Take a message back from me/ Tell them how I am defying gravity!/ I'm flying high defying gravity/ And soon I'll match them in renown./ And nobody in all of Oz/ No Wizard that there is or was/ Is ever gonna bring me down!/ — Stephen Schwartz

Dancing through life Swaying and sweeping And always keeping cool Life is faught less When you're thoughtless Those who don't try Never look foolish Dancing through life Mindless and careless Make sure you're where less Trouble is rife Woes are fleeting Blows are glancing When you're dancing Through life ... — Stephen Schwartz

Start a new fashion, wear your heart on your sleeveSometimes you reach what's real just by making believeUnafraid, unashamedThere is joy to be claimed in this worldYou even might wind up being glad to be you. — Stephen Schwartz

So much of me is made of what I learned from you; you'll be with me like a handprint on my heart and now whatever way our stories end I know you have re-written mine by being my friend — Stephen Schwartz

When hard times come, the greatest danger does not necessarily lie in the circumstances we face, but rather in the way we treat ourselves at the time. Nothing is more dangerous than self-hate. Nothing makes it more difficult to heal or to find the grace of peace than self-attack and the agony of self-doubt. — Stephen Schwartz

I believe if I refuse to grow old, I can stay young 'til I die. — Stephen Schwartz

Those who don't try never look foolish. — Stephen Schwartz

No, you're wrong. I'm a hundred percent callow and deeply shallow. — Stephen Schwartz

Well, we can't all come and go by bubble! — Stephen Schwartz

Day by day, dear Lord,
Of Thee three things I pray.
To see Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
Follow Thee more nearly,
Day by day. — Stephen Schwartz

While many of my musicals deal with big themes and ideas, I don't intentionally go looking to write shows like that. A story will interest me, and then somewhere along the way, I discover that hidden inside are these epic themes. — Stephen Schwartz

Excuse me, there's no pretense here. I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow. — Stephen Schwartz

I don't think it's a secret that New York tastemakers don't love my work. — Stephen Schwartz

I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so Some things I cannot change But till I try, I'll never know! Too long I've been afraid of Losing love I guess I've lost Well, if that's love It comes at much too high a cost! — Stephen Schwartz

Elphaba: "I just wish ..."
Fiyero: "What?"
Elphaba: "I wish I could be beautiful ... for you."
Fiyero: "Elphaba ..."
Elphaba: "Don't tell me that I am. You don't need to lie to me."
Fiyero: "It's not lying! It's looking at things another way. — Stephen Schwartz

Because happy is what happens when all your dreams come true!

Well ... isn't it? — Stephen Schwartz

I don't believe in condescending to children. I don't change any writing technique. — Stephen Schwartz

BUT IF YOU'RE SMART, YOU'LL LEARN YOUR LESSON WELL. — Stephen Schwartz

Let the green girl go! — Stephen Schwartz

Happy is what happens when all your dreams come true. — Stephen Schwartz

I wouldn't do a project if it weren't a story I wanted to tell. That's rewarding in itself, as a writer, if you're working on a story that you enjoy telling. — Stephen Schwartz

You think the only people who are people are the people who look and think like you, but if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew you never knew. — Stephen Schwartz

It's just life, so keep dancing through. — Stephen Schwartz

....Everyone deserves a chance to fly! — Stephen Schwartz

Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill. — Stephen Schwartz