Robert Lopez Quotes

Powerful Robert Lopez for Daily Growth

About Robert Lopez

Robert Lopez, born on March 16, 1975, is an American songwriter, composer, and playwright whose innovative work in theater has made him a prominent figure in contemporary musical comedy. Born and raised in San Francisco, California, Lopez's interest in music began at an early age as he learned to play the piano. He attended Columbia University where he studied English literature but his passion for music led him to join the school's acapella group, Columbia Unsung Heroes. It was here that he met his future collaborator and wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Their creative partnership began with a student film in 1998, leading them to write songs for various cartoons like "Phineas and Ferb" and "Milo Murphy's Law." However, their breakthrough came with the Broadway musical "Avenue Q," which won three Tony Awards in 2004. In 2013, they achieved even greater success with Disney's blockbuster animated film "Frozen," co-writing songs that became global sensations, including "Let It Go" and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" The soundtrack was certified triple platinum in the US. Their next collaboration with Disney was the smash hit musical "Frozen II" (2019), followed by their original Disney film, "Encanto" (2021). Lopez's work often explores themes of love, identity, and family, reflecting his personal experiences. Lopez's influence extends beyond Broadway and Hollywood, with his unique blend of humor, heart, and catchy melodies shaping modern musical theater. He continues to create, collaborate, and innovate in the realm of music and storytelling.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

This quote emphasizes that genuine passion for one's work is crucial in achieving greatness. It suggests that when we deeply care about and enjoy our work, we are more likely to produce exceptional results, as opposed to viewing tasks merely as means to an end or obligatory duties. The implication here is that love, enthusiasm, and dedication not only fuel personal fulfillment but also contribute significantly to professional success.


"Don't waste your time waiting for inspiration, sit down at your desk and start writing."

This quote emphasizes the importance of consistent effort over passive waiting for inspiration to strike. It suggests that creativity and productivity often arise from deliberate action rather than waiting for a muse or divine spark. By sitting down to work, one actively engages in their craft, fostering an environment conducive to generating ideas and making progress. The implication is that inspiration may follow as a result of this focused effort, but it should not be relied upon as a prerequisite for action.


"You don't have to be perfect to create something incredible."

This quote emphasizes that the pursuit of perfection should not hinder one's creativity or innovation. It suggests that flawlessness is not a prerequisite for creating something exceptional, meaningful, or impactful. Imperfections and mistakes are an integral part of the creative process, providing opportunities for growth and learning. Instead, it encourages people to embrace their unique talents, take risks, and fearlessly bring their ideas to life, acknowledging that even in the absence of perfection, extraordinary creations can still be born.


"Everything I know about storytelling I learned from musicals."

This quote implies that Robert Lopez, a prominent figure in musical theater, believes that the skills and techniques he uses to tell stories through music and lyrics - such as character development, plot structure, thematic resonance, emotional impact, and audience engagement - can be applied universally to all forms of storytelling, including but not limited to novels, films, and other media. Essentially, Lopez is suggesting that the principles he's learned in musical theater are fundamental to crafting compelling narratives across various artistic platforms.


"The first draft is just you telling yourself the story."

This quote emphasizes that the initial stage of writing, often referred to as the "first draft," is a process of narrating the story to oneself. It implies that the primary purpose at this stage is not to create a polished final product, but rather to explore the ideas, characters, and plotlines in an unrefined form. This view encourages writers to focus on the creative flow, allowing their thoughts and imagination to guide the narrative without being overly concerned with grammar, structure, or perfection at this early stage. The real artistry emerges during subsequent drafts as the writer refines and shapes the raw story told in the first draft into a polished piece of work.


The temptation to quit and start over infects every creative process I've ever been in. Frustration and boredom always fuel this self-doubt.

- Robert Lopez

Boredom, Always, Over, Temptation

It's so important, after a song is finished, to go to sleep and listen to the song with fresh ears the next day. It's sometimes a traumatic event. And playing it for someone else for the first time - that is the most nerve-wracking thing of all. But we learn so much.

- Robert Lopez

Listen, Sometimes, Next, Traumatic

In 'Winnie the Pooh,' a lot of the characters have serious flaws: Pooh is sort of a food addict. Rabbit is OCD, and Owl is a compulsive liar.

- Robert Lopez

Food, Owl, Sort, Rabbit

I basically never feel like writing. I am a happy-go-lucky, relaxed, fun-seeking kind of person. And working disturbs that, because it puts me in a state of anxiety.

- Robert Lopez

Kind, Feel, Like, Relaxed

When we wrote 'Avenue Q,' we worked hard to create something that could be funny and satirical but also had some surprise moments of heart, moments when the music itself could become a central player and create something sweet and moving.

- Robert Lopez

Surprise, Some, Could, Satirical

I think one of my favorite productions ever was Sondheim's 'Assassins' at the Roundabout in 2004. Beyond brilliant.

- Robert Lopez

Think, Brilliant, I Think, Sondheim

I'm sort of agnostic. I grew up Catholic and switched to Episcopalian in college because I sang in churches to have money to buy pizza and french fries.

- Robert Lopez

College, French Fries, Buy, Churches

People try not to think about what's going on in sub-Saharan Africa. They edit it out of their daily lives. Especially Americans. We prefer a fantasy version of Africa.

- Robert Lopez

Think, Fantasy, Africa, Daily Lives

With comedy, the jokes will come out, and people will see them coming. Changes in daily life or current events can change the consciousness of audiences and can make the show less funny or feel more stale.

- Robert Lopez

Changes, Feel, Show, Current Events

When you're trying to do a traditional book musical like 'Book of Mormon,' it's always nice to have characters that could very naturally break into song, and its good to pick a subject matter that allows that to happen in a way that doesn't disarm the audience.

- Robert Lopez

Book, Very, Subject, Disarm

I don't know if I have good habits, but I'm very devoted to writing. I'm very compulsive about having a project, at least one, and trying to follow the business as much as I can. I keep on top of all the entertainment business news.

- Robert Lopez

Habits, Entertainment, Very, Compulsive

The things that I have done that haven't been as successful have been things that have been largely out of the public view, which is great. It's terrible, when you're a theater writer, to have a big flop publicly.

- Robert Lopez

Big, Been, Which, Flop

I'm not an advocate of true rhymes, I don't think. I think that everyone who writes musical theater needs to know how to do true rhymes, because that's the tradition of it, but I do think that in order for the art form to grow, it's important to not let tradition get in the way of innovation.

- Robert Lopez

Advocate, I Think, Rhymes, Writes

If you're doing a musical, you should be out to give the audience something special, emotional, an uplifting feeling, something that stays with them. And you're not going to do that by bumming them out.

- Robert Lopez

Doing, Give, Audience, Uplifting

I'm not really a 'puppet' person in particular; I think they are very theatrical, and I've found different uses for them in shows, but my true interest is in writing Broadway musicals.

- Robert Lopez

Think, Very, Theatrical, Puppet

I thought it would be really cool to show the world the inner life of someone like me, who doesn't have a huge personality, who deals with some personal demons and is a little bit shy and a little awkward when you first get to know me.

- Robert Lopez

Thought, Shy, Some, Demons

This is one of my lesser moments, and one I'm not proud to admit to, but there's always a time I feel the need to have control over the process and try to defend the song from the person I'm writing with. It never, ever helps and always causes problems.

- Robert Lopez

Moments, Admit, Feel, Lesser

Every time I see a film or TV show, I think about how that composer made those choices and how that director envisioned music and how that could work onstage or in a film and how you could support that even further by putting lyrics to it.

- Robert Lopez

I Think, TV, Putting, Lyrics

When a good idea sparks, it's usually because of some subversive angle that means the song we're writing will be fresh.

- Robert Lopez

Song, Some, Means, Fresh

You can never assume that something is going to do well.

- Robert Lopez

Never, Well, Going, Assume

People are born with the ability to make judgments. And they can't help but use the information they have to divine something about the world they're in. Making categorical judgments, in large, helps our society.

- Robert Lopez

Making, Large, Judgments, Categorical

I like to think my sense of humor is sort of smart and dumb at the same time. I like to work on multiple levels - smart and dumb, funny and sad, profound and mundane, cynical and hopeful.

- Robert Lopez

Sense Of Humor, Think, Like, Levels

Whenever Disney asks if you want to do a fairy tale musical, you say yes.

- Robert Lopez

Tale, Whenever, Musical, Fairy

I am never excited to play through a song all the way, because it can reveal more flaws that mean more work. For some reason, I always have an irrational fear that the song will never be finished.

- Robert Lopez

Song, Play, Through, Flaws

Our kids come first, and we really put them at the top of our priority list.

- Robert Lopez

Top, Come, Them, Priority

There's been a lot of Catholic parody - 'Nunsense,' 'Sister Mary Ignatius' - I think they've almost been done to death, actually.

- Robert Lopez

Think, Been, I Think, Catholic

It's wonderful to be able to have such wildly different projects in your body of work. They don't feel different to me as I'm working on them. It feels like they all share this element of subversiveness and finding the joy in subversiveness.

- Robert Lopez

Feel, Projects, Feels, Element

I don't think I met an actual Mormon until college, and by that time, I was wary of them. I knew about the church through school and, secondhand, through non-Mormon friends.

- Robert Lopez

College, Think, Through, Mormon

I try to turn off the TV and play with my kids as much as I can, and I always hope they're having as good a time as Mormon kids.

- Robert Lopez

Play, Always, TV, Mormon

I don't know any Mormon that doesn't have warm memories of their family.

- Robert Lopez

Memories, Know, Warm, Mormon

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