Stephen Sondheim Quotes

I think, as long as people have a strong opinion, whether they love or hate us, I think we're doing something right.

I feel like people either love me or hate me, which is good, because that was the point of what I do. The point of M.I.A. is to be - it's either to be loved or hated. At least you evoke that much of a strong opinion about music.

For me, the greatest pleasure is when you make something, and everyone argues about it.

The amusing thing about 'X-Force' is that it was highly rated - and hated - in about equal measure, Which suited me just fine. If no-one's feathers were a little ruffled, we probably wouldn't have been doing our jobs right.

I'm well aware that no matter how big of a jerk I am, some people will cheer me, and no matter what I do, some people will boo me, and that's fine. I just need to elicit emotion. That's all I care about.

With 'Snowtown,' you either love it or you hate it; there's no middle ground. So I've come to understand and appreciate that's the kind of film that it is.

I'd rather create something that gives people a very strong reaction than create a show that someone looks at and says, 'Hmm. Fine.'

I find that people love to hate me, and a lot of people love to love me.

People either love me or they hate me, or they don't really care.

Our band is very polarizing. There are people who absolutely can't stand us, and people who absolutely can't live without us. I'd rather spark those kind of polar-opposite feelings than have people be indifferent.

I want to make people feel intensely alive. I'd rather have them against me than indifferent.

If you're not polarizing, you failed, in my opinion.

You could mention my name in any hallway in any academic institution and you would have people foaming at the mouth.

Look, you're either loved or hated. Which is a good thing, as Bette Davis used to say.

I am not afraid that the book will be controversial, I'm afraid it will not be controversial.

I don't just want to upset people and shock people by saying something really outrageous.

I seem to always inspire a strong reaction one way or the other.

If people are passionate about your product, whether it's because they're hating or loving it, those are both good scenarios.

Many people love me, many people hate me - there's nobody in between. That's the way I prefer it.

I've been doing this for 33 years, and sometimes you make movies and nobody cares. But when people care, it's the greatest thing in the world - even when it's passionately against the title - because it's going to start a conversation.

We've been polarizing for different reasons. For one thing, my voice is very polarizing. It sits in this place that either appeals to people or really puts people off. I can understand that.

I'm the kind of person whom you like or hate, you never stay neutral.

I've always been sort of, 'I love it,' or, 'I hate it,' and I think, as a result, I've always been a polarizing person. You either love me or you hate me. There's not a lot of 'Hmmm.'

I don't want people to say, 'So, what do you think about that Cher?' and for them to reply, 'She's okay.' Okay is not good enough. I want them to either love me or to completely despise me - I mean, call me all the names under the sun. I love it.

I think some people enjoy that I say things that upset or shake up people.