Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star.
Stephen SondheimRead
Careful the spell you cast, not just on children. Sometimes the spell may last Past what you can see And turn against you... Careful the tale you tell. That is the spell.
Interpretation
Be mindful of the words and influences you share, as they can have lasting effects beyond your immediate perception.
This quote by Stephen Sondheim emphasizes the importance of the narratives we create and the impact of our words, particularly on impressionable minds. It serves as a reminder that what we communicate can resonate beyond our control, potentially shaping the thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors of others in unforeseen ways, making it crucial to approach storytelling and expression with care and responsibility.
In practice
In a workshop about effective communication, one might reference this quote to highlight the importance of thoughtful language.
Tonight, tonight, won't be just any night. Tonight there will be no morning star.
After the Rodgers and Hammerstein revolution, songs became part of the story, as opposed to just entertainments in between comedy scenes.
Musical comedies aren't written, they are rewritten.
Let Pirelli's / Miracle Elixir / Activate your roots, sir... Keep it off your boots, sir- / Eats right through. Yes, get Pirelli's! / Use a bottle of it! / Ladies seem to love it... Flies do, too!
Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos.
Swing your razor wide! Sweeney, hold it to the skies!
Our world requires that decisions be sourced and footnoted, and if we say how we feel, we must also be prepared to elaborate on why we feel that way...We need to respect the fact that it is possible to know without knowing why we know and accept that - sometimes - we're better off that way.
I left the fairy tales lying on the floor of the nursery, and I have not found any books so sensible since.
Writing is a strange and solitary activity. There are dispiriting times when you start working on the first few pages of a novel. Every day, you have the feeling you are on the wrong track. This creates a strong urge to go back and follow a different path. It is important not to give in to this urge but to keep going.
So many people would like to have guidance from God because obviously, if you have a word from God, it's the best possible thing. But they don't relate that to life as a whole. Often they want guidance as a way of opting out of the responsibility of making decisions.
All is worthwhile if the soul is not small.
What, start at this! when sixty years have spread. Their grey experience o'er thy hoary head? Is this the all observing age could gain? Or hast thou known the world so long in vain?
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