The body says what words cannot.
Martha GrahamRead
Practice means to perform, over and over again in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Practice involves persistent effort despite challenges, aiming for perfect execution of one's vision.
Martha Graham highlights the importance of practice as an essential path to achieving one's aspirations. By repeatedly engaging in acts driven by vision, faith, and desire, individuals not only improve their skills but also cultivate an environment that nurtures the pursuit of perfection, regardless of the obstacles they face along the way.
Themes
PracticePerfectionFaithDesireVisionObstacles
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech to students, to inspire them to keep practicing despite hardships.
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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