--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mannerism is not character, and…" description: "\"Mannerism is not character, and affectation is the avowed enemy of grace. Every dancer ought to regard his laborious art as a link in the chain of beau..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/august-bournonville-39576_affectation_mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectati_47042.jpg" --- # Mannerism is not character, and affectation is the avowed… ![“Mannerism is not character, and affectation is the avowed enemy of grace. Every dancer ought to regard his laborious art as a link in the chain of beauty, as a useful ornament for the stage, and this, in turn, as an important element in the spiritual development of nations.” quote by August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/august-bournonville-39576_affectation_mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectati_47042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/august-bournonville-39576_affectation_mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectati_47042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/august-bournonville-39576_affectation_mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectati_47042.jpg) > “Mannerism is not character, and affectation is the avowed enemy of grace. Every dancer ought to regard his laborious art as a link in the chain of beauty, as a useful ornament for the stage, and this, in turn, as an important element in the spiritual development of nations.” [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mannerism, artificial affectation, undermines genuine grace in dance, which should serve as a purposeful, beautiful contribution to cultural and spiritual growth. **In simple terms:** Graceful dance enriches culture Key Takeaway Authentic expression matters Themes art culture spirituality beauty discipline Mood inspired reflective Type philosophical didactic When to use this quote - stage performance - dance education - national cultural festivals Key Concepts authenticity aesthetic value cultural impact Practical Applications - choreography design - cultural policy Questions to Reflect On - How does dance reflect societal values? - What role does authenticity play in artistic traditions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affectation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affectation/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Elements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elements/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Mannerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mannerism/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nature of Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-beauty/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-development/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [Mannerism always wants to be finished and doesn't enjoy the process. Genuine, truly great talent, however, finds its greatest satisfaction in the production.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/mannerism-always-wants-to-be-finished-and-doesn-t-enjoy-the-process/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Carlyle must undoubtedly plead guilty to the charge of mannerism. He not only has his vein, but his peculiar manner of working it.He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/carlyle-must-undoubtedly-plead-guilty-to-the-charge-of-mannerism-he/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Mannerism is always longing to have done, and has no true enjoyment in work. A genuine, really great talent, on the other hand, has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/mannerism-is-always-longing-to-have-done-and-has-no-true-enjoyment-in/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I'm not mannerist. I don't think I'm interested in mannerism. If I ever use it in a way, or if manner is like some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-schnabel/i-m-not-mannerist-i-don-t-think-i-m-interested-in-mannerism-if-i-ever/) [Julian Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-schnabel/) > [I realized that one cannot reveal oneself without mannerism, without some evident trace of one's personality. But all the same one should not go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-braque/i-realized-that-one-cannot-reveal-oneself-without-mannerism-without/) [Georges Braque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-braque/) > [When technique is obtrusive it becomes mere mannerism, a conscious striving for effect. It is only a means to an end - the manner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-phillips/when-technique-is-obtrusive-it-becomes-mere-mannerism-a-conscious/) [Walter J. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-phillips/) > [ \[Mannerism is when\] you think you have all these great ideas, and none of them are good at the end of the day. But… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/mannerism-is-when-you-think-you-have-all-these-great-ideas-and-none/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [“Wisdom is not counted in grammers, niether in fluency, but vividly shown in mannerism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/wisdom-is-not-counted-in-grammers-niether-in-fluency-but-vividly/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Mannerism, especially when it takes the form of recurrent word or phrase, is by no means easy to represent; there is but a hair's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lascelles/mannerism-especially-when-it-takes-the-form-of-recurrent-word-or/) [Mary Lascelles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lascelles/) > [It's difficult to adopt mannerism of a real-life person and even add the nuances of your acting into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paresh-rawal/it-s-difficult-to-adopt-mannerism-of-a-real-life-person-and-even-add/) [Paresh Rawal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paresh-rawal/) > [Although I adore the Italian High Renaissance, I'd rather look at Mannerism. The former is ordered, integrated, otherworldly, and grandiose; it leaves you feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/although-i-adore-the-italian-high-renaissance-i-d-rather-look-at/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [“A Mannerist designer would attack the linguistic convention not by avoiding the use of the signal, but by misusing it notoriously.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonta/a-mannerist-designer-would-attack-the-linguistic-convention-not-by/) Bonta > [You will not find me repeating a character or carrying similar mannerism in different films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amyra-dastur/you-will-not-find-me-repeating-a-character-or-carrying-similar/) [Amyra Dastur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amyra-dastur/) > [“This mannerism of what he'd seen of society struck Homer Wells quite forcefully; people, even nice people—because, surely, Wally was nice—would say a host…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/this-mannerism-of-what-he-d-seen-of-society-struck-homer-wells-quite/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I have no affectation when I speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kudrow/i-have-no-affectation-when-i-speak/) [Lisa Kudrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kudrow/) ## More by August Bournonville > [The beauty to which the Dance ought to aspire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/the-beauty-to-which-the-dance-ought-to-aspire/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [The beauty to which the Dance ought to aspire is not dependent upon taste or pleasure, but is founded on the immutable laws of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/the-beauty-to-which-the-dance-ought-to-aspire-is-not-dependent-upon/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [The Dance is an art because it demands vocation, knowledge, and ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/the-dance-is-an-art-because-it-demands-vocation-knowledge-and-ability/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [The art of Mime encompasses all the feelings of the soul. The Dance, on the other hand, is essentially an expression of joy, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/the-art-of-mime-encompasses-all-the-feelings-of-the-soul-the-dance-on/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [The beautiful always retains the freshness of novelty, while the astonishing soon grow tiresome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/the-beautiful-always-retains-the-freshness-of-novelty-while-the/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [It is a fine art because it strives for an ideal, not only in plastic but also in lyrical respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/it-is-a-fine-art-because-it-strives-for-an-ideal-not-only-in-plastic/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [It is not so much upon the number of exercises, as the care with which they are done, that progreses and skill depend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/it-is-not-so-much-upon-the-number-of-exercises-as-the-care-with-which/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [Joy is a strength; intoxication, a weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/joy-is-a-strength-intoxication-a-weakness/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [The height of artistic skill is to know how to conceal the mechanical effort and strain beneath harmonious calm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/the-height-of-artistic-skill-is-to-know-how-to-conceal-the-mechanical/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [The Dance can, with the aid of music, rise to the heights of poetry. On the other hand, through an excess of gymnastics it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/the-dance-can-with-the-aid-of-music-rise-to-the-heights-of-poetry-on/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) [Explore all 11 August Bournonville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) ## More Affectation quotes > [I have no affectation when I speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kudrow/i-have-no-affectation-when-i-speak/) [Lisa Kudrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kudrow/) > [Affectation is a very good word when someone does not wish to confess to what he would none the less like to believe of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/affectation-is-a-very-good-word-when-someone-does-not-wish-to-confess/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like affectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-don-t-like-affectation/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Look for all fancy wordings and get rid of themAvoid all terms and expressions, old or new, that embody affectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/look-for-all-fancy-wordings-and-get-rid-of-themavoid-all-terms-and/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [The only source of the true Ridiculous (as it appears to me) is affectation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-only-source-of-the-true-ridiculous-as-it-appears-to-me-is/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Affectation is to be always distinguished from hypocrisy as being the art of counterfeiting those qualities, which we might with innocence and safety, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/affectation-is-to-be-always-distinguished-from-hypocrisy-as-being-the/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Don't laugh at a youth for his affectations; he's only trying on one face after another till he finds his own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-pearsall-smith/don-t-laugh-at-a-youth-for-his-affectations-he-s-only-trying-on-one/) [Logan Pearsall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-pearsall-smith/) > [I have no modesty. Modesty is a learned affectation. It's like decal stuck up on a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-have-no-modesty-modesty-is-a-learned-affectation-it-s-like-decal/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Affectation is the product of falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/affectation-is-the-product-of-falsehood/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Affectation hath always had a greater share both in the action and discourse of men than truth and judgment have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aphra-behn/affectation-hath-always-had-a-greater-share-both-in-the-action-and/) [Aphra Behn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aphra-behn/) > [Affectation proceeds from one of these two causes,--vanity or hypocrisy; for as vanity puts us on affecting false characters, in order to purchase applause;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/affectation-proceeds-from-one-of-these-two-causes-vanity-or-hypocrisy/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [External reality is sort of an affectation of the nervous system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaron-lanier/external-reality-is-sort-of-an-affectation-of-the-nervous-system/) [Jaron Lanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaron-lanier/) > [There is a pleasure in affecting affectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/there-is-a-pleasure-in-affecting-affectation/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Affectation is an awkward and forced imitation of what should be genuine and easy, wanting the beauty that accompanies what is natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/affectation-is-an-awkward-and-forced-imitation-of-what-should-be/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) > [Affectation is as necessary to the mind as dress is to the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/affectation-is-as-necessary-to-the-mind-as-dress-is-to-the-body/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) [Browse all 27 Affectation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affectation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mannerism is not character, and affectation is the avowed enemy of grace. Every dancer ought to regard his laborious art as a link in the chain of beauty, as a useful ornament for the stage, and this, in turn, as an important element in the spiritual development of nations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "August Bournonville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectation-is-the-avowed-enemy-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affectation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectation-is-the-avowed-enemy-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/august-bournonville-39576_affectation_mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectati_47042.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/august-bournonville-39576_affectation_mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectati_47042.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ae/august-bournonville-39576_affectation_mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectati_47042.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mannerism is not character, and affectation is the avowed enemy of grace. Every dancer ought to regard his…” — August Bournonville", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "August Bournonville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mannerism is not character, and affectation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectation-is-the-avowed-enemy-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectation-is-the-avowed-enemy-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```