The body says what words cannot.
Martha GrahamRead
Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of self-expression over perfection or societal judgment.
Martha Graham's quote serves as a reminder that the value of one's participation and authenticity far surpasses the need for skill or approval from others. It encourages individuals to embrace their unique forms of expression without fear of criticism, suggesting that the act of expressing oneself holds more significance than technical proficiency.
Themes
DanceSelf-ExpressionAuthenticityPerfectionJudgment
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational workshop about self-confidence, this quote can inspire participants to embrace their individuality.
More from Martha Graham
All quotes βMovement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather to all who can read it.
Martha GrahamRead
What people in the world think of you is really none of your business.
Martha GrahamRead
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.
Martha GrahamRead
The body is your instrument in dance, but your art is outside that creature, the body.
Martha GrahamRead
There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium, and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.
Martha GrahamRead
Similar quotes
I try to get that across in the work, to try to, if I'm lucky, to make this world a little bit better for all of us before I check out. And that's if I'm lucky, I don't always get to have that privilege but I try always.
Mandy PatinkinRead
Indeed, there is an eloquence in true enthusiasm that is not to be doubted.
Edgar Allan PoeRead
Recognise excellence. Celebrate weirdness and innovation. Oddballs should be cherished, if they can do something other people can't do.
Anthony BourdainRead
Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no it is far greater than that. It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks.
Max LucadoRead
Hope - Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope!
Barack ObamaRead
We all have within us the ability to move from struggle to grace.
Arianna HuffingtonRead