Dancers are the messengers of the gods.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Dance
No artist is ahead of his time. He is his time. It’s just that the others are behind the time.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Art
Censorship is the height of vanity.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Censorship
Age is the acceptance of a term of years. But maturity is the glory of years.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Maturity
You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled then something has been lost.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Ability
We look at the dance to impart the sensation of living in an affirmation of life, to energize the spectator into keener awareness of the vigor, the mystery, the humor, the variety, and the wonder of life. This is the function of the American dance.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Dancing, Dance, Awareness
Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Dance, Dancing
The body never lies.
—Martha Graham
Topics: The Body
Dance is a song of the body. Either of joy or pain.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Dancing, Dance
There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and 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. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is on a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Being True to Yourself, Action
Every dance is a kind of fever chart, a graph of the heart.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Dance, Dancing
America does not concern itself now with Impressionism. We own no involved philosophy. The psyche of the land is to be found in its movement. It is to be felt as a dramatic force of energy and vitality. We move; we do not stand still. We have not yet arrived at the stock-taking stage.
—Martha Graham
Topics: America
Misery is a communicable disease.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Self-Pity, Hedonism, Attitude
I did not want to be a tree, a flower or a wave. In a dancer’s body, we as audience must see ourselves, not the imitated behavior of everyday actions, not the phenomenon of nature, not exotic creatures from another planet, but something of the miracle that is a human being.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Audiences
A building, if it’s beautiful, is the love of one man, he’s made it out of his love for space, materials, things like that.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Architecture
Dance is the hidden language of the soul.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Dance, Dancing, Language
The only sin is mediocrity.
—Martha Graham
You see, when weaving a blanket, an Indian woman leaves a flaw in the weaving of that blanket to let the soul out.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Perfection
Nothing is more revealing than movement.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Dance, Dancing
Great dancers are not great because of their technique; they are great because of their passion.
—Martha Graham
Topics: Dancing, Dance
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Isadora Duncan American Dancer
- Agnes de Mille American Dancer
- Fred Astaire American Dancer, Singer
- Helen Hayes American Actress
- Kirk Douglas American Actor
- Arthur Rubinstein American Pianist
- Eleanor Roosevelt American Humanitarian
- Bob Hope British-born American Comedian, Film Actor
- B. B. King American Blues Musician
- Aretha Franklin American Gospel and Soul Singer
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