QuoteProject
No dancer can watch Fred Astaire and not know that we all should have been in another business.
Mikhail Baryshnikov
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote expresses admiration for Fred Astaire's unparalleled talent, suggesting that his greatness makes others feel inadequate in their own pursuits.

Mikhail Baryshnikov's quote reflects a deep appreciation for the extraordinary skill of Fred Astaire in dance. It conveys the idea that witnessing such brilliance can evoke feelings of self-doubt or inspire reflection on one's own path, implying that Astaire's artistry is so profound that it raises the bar for all dancers and performers. It speaks to the influence of exceptional talent on one’s perception of their own abilities and aspirations.

Themes

DanceTalentAdmirationPerforming ArtsInspiration

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech praising dancers at an awards ceremony.

More from Mikhail Baryshnikov

I found that dance, music, and literature is how I made sense of the world... it pushed me to think of things bigger than life's daily routines... to think beyond what is immediate or convenient.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
It's weird when you see pieces of choreography that were done for you 15 or 20 years ago and now they are being done by another dance company.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
I miss horribly those couple of hours before the performance when you get into the theater and you see people.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
There comes a moment in a young artist's life when he knows he has to bring something to the stage from within himself. He has to put in something in order to be able to take something.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
Dancing is my obsession. My life.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead
If your only dance experience is the Nutcracker, it will be a shock; hopefully shocking in a good way.
Mikhail BaryshnikovRead

Similar quotes

If you are wiling to do something that might not work, you are closer to being an artist.
Seth GodinRead
The poets who have written the best poems about war seem to be the poets whose countries have experienced an invasion or vicious dictatorships.
Billy CollinsRead
Films to the degree that they glorify mindlessness and short attention span they are bad, to the degree that they encourage empathy with people not like ourselves and encourage us to think about life, they are good.
Roger EbertRead
People say graffiti is ugly, irresponsible and childish... but that's only if it's done properly.
BanksyRead
Art-making is not about telling the truth but making the truth felt
Christian BoltanskiRead
I never, ever want to apologize for a film. If it's bad I'll say it's my fault. And that's what I can say so far in all the films that I've done, that if you don't like it, it's entirely my fault.
Ken BurnsRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.