Robert A. M. Stern Quotes

We have no precedents to guide us, and that is a glorious thing, for precedents, like other guides are disposed to grow tyrannical and refuse to let us do anything on our own initiative. Life grows wearisome in the countries where precedents and conventionality is rule and nothing can happen unless it has happen before.

I'm not following anybody's tracks, I'm making my own baby.

A lot of people tell me a lot of things about my conduct, my game, my future... but I try to stay away from their words of wisdom. I don't let it distract me. On the field, you will be facing the ball alone. If you fail, you will the only one to blame. So, you should be the one deciding for yourself.

I never follow anybody's path, what they've done.

Success follows those adept at preserving the substance of the past by clothing it in the forms of the future.

Innovation can only occur where you can breathe free.

Freedom is the right to question, and change the established way of doing things.…It is the understanding that allows us to recognize shortcomings and seek solutions. It is the right to put forth an idea, scoffed at by the experts, and watch it catch fire among the people. It is the right to dream-- to follow your dream, or stick to your conscience, even if you're the only one in a sea of doubters.

I don't like following in people's footsteps; I like making my own trail.

New ideas are not born in a conforming environment.

Twyla Tharp is not going to take orders from anyone, not even Mozart!

We are ultimately alone in that we are ultimately responsible for ourselves.

Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.

Work out of your work. Don't work out of anybody else's work.

Today, charting your own course isn't just more necessary than ever before. It's also much easier - and much more fun.

If you make up your own mind, you can only blame yourself.

If you are going to do something truly innovative, you have to be someone who does not value social approval. You can't need social approval to go forward. Otherwise, how would you ever do the thing that you are doing?

With awareness come responsibility and choice.

The first rule in opera is the first rule in life: see to everything yourself.

What is now proved was once only imagined.

I didn't really care if I had a coach that much, me personally, because I was brought up to think for myself.

I believe that we are solely responsible for our choices, and we have to accept the consequences of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime.

I just know that it's smart for my career to carve my own path and do my own thing.

Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.

Do everything yourself.

I want to be surprised by what people do, I don't want to work with people who need to be told what to do. I want people to show me what they've got.