Tolstoy may be right about happy and unhappy families, but…
“Tolstoy may be right about happy and unhappy families, but in ballet, it works the opposite way: All good ballets are different from each other and all bad ones are alike, at least in one crucial respect - they're all empty.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Ballet thrives on diversity; uniformity signals poor quality.
In simple terms: Variety makes good ballets; sameness makes bad ones.
Seek originality in art.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- producing ballets
- critique performances
- art education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we equate sameness with emptiness?
- How can tradition coexist with innovation?
Some audiences may prefer familiar styles; diversity isn’t always valued.