Quotes by Martha Graham

The body is a sacred garment.  It's your first and last garment; it is what you enter life in and what you depart life with, and it should be treated with honor.

There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time this expression is unique.

It is what I always wanted to do, to show the laughter,the fun, the joy of dance.

The next time you look into the mirror,
just look at the way the ears rest next to the head;
look at the way the hairline grows; think of all the little bones in your wrist.
It is a miracle.

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is
translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you
in all of 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, nor how
 valuable, nor how it compares with other expressions.  It is your
 business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, to keep the channel
 open.... You have to keep open and aware directly to the urge that
 motivates you.  Keep the channel open.

 

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 will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable it is nor how it compares with other expressions. 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 only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than others. -Martha Graham to Agnes DeMille

There is a vitality, a life-force, a energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of 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, nor how it compares with other expressions. 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 anytime. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than others. If I add something to my time, then that is my prize.

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening
That is translated through you into action,
And because there is only one of you in all of 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,
Nor how valuable, or how it compares with other expressions.
It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly,
to stay open and aware to the urges that motivate you.

The body says what words cannot.

There is a vitality,
                   a life force,
                             an energy,
                                   a quickening
           that is translated through you into action
                   and because there is only one you in all of time,
                           this expression is unique.

And if you block it,
                   it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.
                             The world will not have it.

It is not your business to determine how good it is
        nor how valuable,
                        nor how it compares with other expressions.

It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly
                to keep the channel open.

You do not 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 only a queer divine dissatisfaction,
                            a blessed unrest
                                                that keeps us marching
                                                            and makes us more alive
                                                                                       then the others.

                                                                         Martha Graham
                                                                                 to Agnes de Mille
                                                                                 in "Dance to the Piper"