The body says what words cannot.
Martha GrahamRead
The main thing, of course, always, is the fact that there is only one of you in the world, just one, and if that is not fulfilled then something has been lost. Ambition is not enough; necessity is everything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Each individual has a unique purpose, and fulfilling that purpose is essential for a meaningful life.
Martha Graham emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's individuality and the necessity of fulfilling one's unique potential. She argues that simply having ambition is insufficient; what truly matters is the necessity to realize and engage with one's singular purpose in life, as failing to do so results in a significant loss.
Themes
IndividualityPurposeFulfillmentNecessityAmbition
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote during a motivational speech about finding one's life purpose.
More from Martha Graham
All quotes →Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
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Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it.
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What people in the world think of you is really none of your business.
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No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a strange, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.
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The body is your instrument in dance, but your art is outside that creature, the body.
Martha GrahamRead
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