--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dancing is like ditchdigging, it's so…" description: "\"Dancing is like ditchdigging, it's so strenuous. A laborer doesn't work any harder.\" — Cyd Charisse" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/cyd-charisse-7227_dance_dancing-is-like-ditchdigging-it-s-so-str_1851282.jpg" --- # Dancing is like ditchdigging, it's so strenuous. A laborer… ![“Dancing is like ditchdigging, it's so strenuous. A laborer doesn't work any harder.” quote by Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/cyd-charisse-7227_dance_dancing-is-like-ditchdigging-it-s-so-str_1851282.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/cyd-charisse-7227_dance_dancing-is-like-ditchdigging-it-s-so-str_1851282.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ac/cyd-charisse-7227_dance_dancing-is-like-ditchdigging-it-s-so-str_1851282.jpg) > “Dancing is like ditchdigging, it's so strenuous. A laborer doesn't work any harder.” [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work in dance feels as demanding as digging a ditch; both require endurance but no extra effort beyond the task. **In simple terms:** Dance work is tough but natural. Key Takeaway Embrace the grind. Themes discipline physical effort artistry Mood determined inspired Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - rehearsal - performance preparation - training routines Key Concepts work ethic comparative metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How do you find joy in strenuous work? - What motivates you beyond the effort? A Different Perspective Comparisons may oversimplify artistic nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Laborer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laborer/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Woman has been the great unpaid laborer of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/woman-has-been-the-great-unpaid-laborer-of-the-world/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [Pay the laborer his wages before his sweat dries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nazr-mohammed/pay-the-laborer-his-wages-before-his-sweat-dries/) [Nazr Mohammed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nazr-mohammed/) > [A workman is not just a workman. A laborer is not just a laborer. An office worker is not just an office worker. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/a-workman-is-not-just-a-workman-a-laborer-is-not-just-a-laborer-an/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [“Be a worthy worker and work will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/be-a-worthy-worker-and-work-will-come/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“The man who uses his hands is a laborer. The man who uses his mind is a master. But the man who gives his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-man-who-uses-his-hands-is-a-laborer-the-man-who-uses-his-mind-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have earned wages as a waitress, a nanny, a librarian, a personnel officer, an agricultural laborer, an advertising secretary, a typesetter, a proofreader,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hesse/i-have-earned-wages-as-a-waitress-a-nanny-a-librarian-a-personnel/) [Karen Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hesse/) > [A laborer no longer makes whole articles. He receives raw materials, puts his touch on them, and passes them to another worker in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/a-laborer-no-longer-makes-whole-articles-he-receives-raw-materials/) [John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/) > [“Being a laborer with one hand is about as useful as being a sperm donor with one nut.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-mccormack/being-a-laborer-with-one-hand-is-about-as-useful-as-being-a-sperm/) Devon McCormack > [“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-of-assisi/he-who-works-with-his-hands-is-a-laborer-he-who-works-with-his-hands/) Saint Francis of Assisi > [I am a true laborer: I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-am-a-true-laborer-i-earn-that-i-eat-get-that-i-wear-owe-no-man-hate/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I was in the cement end of the construction business, as a laborer. I was pouring concrete, and stripping forms off of set concrete,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-elliott/i-was-in-the-cement-end-of-the-construction-business-as-a-laborer-i/) [Sam Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-elliott/) > [I worked as a day laborer throughout college, worked for Deloitte and Touche, got my CPA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-murphy/i-worked-as-a-day-laborer-throughout-college-worked-for-deloitte-and/) [Patrick Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-murphy/) > [The wind, a sightless laborer, whistles at his task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/the-wind-a-sightless-laborer-whistles-at-his-task/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [I class myself as a manual laborer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-white/i-class-myself-as-a-manual-laborer/) [Theodore White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-white/) > [My father loved me so much that he did not want me to be a laborer or anything. I dont know if its the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pesci/my-father-loved-me-so-much-that-he-did-not-want-me-to-be-a-laborer-or/) [Joe Pesci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pesci/) ## More by Cyd Charisse > [I think, however, that Astaire's coordination is better than Kelly's... his sense of rhythm is uncanny. Kelly, on the other hand, is the stronger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-think-however-that-astaire-s-coordination-is-better-than-kelly-s/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [The music changed. We had Irving Berlin and Gershwin and Lerner and Loewe and Cole Porter. Great music. Now we have 'Rent.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/the-music-changed-we-had-irving-berlin-and-gershwin-and-lerner-and/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [Well, I don't like hats, never wear 'em.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/well-i-don-t-like-hats-never-wear-em/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [People who think they're making a fool of themselves on the dance floor usually do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/people-who-think-they-re-making-a-fool-of-themselves-on-the-dance/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I dance every day and my legs are in good shape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-dance-every-day-and-my-legs-are-in-good-shape/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [Unless you have the right legs, these mini-skirts are ungainly and uncomfortable. They're just a fad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/unless-you-have-the-right-legs-these-mini-skirts-are-ungainly-and/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [Everybody can learn to dance. If they can walk, they can dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/everybody-can-learn-to-dance-if-they-can-walk-they-can-dance/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I'm a dancer and when I walk off stage there isn't a dry spot on me. This means my hair has to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-m-a-dancer-and-when-i-walk-off-stage-there-isn-t-a-dry-spot-on-me/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [The Roman goddess Diana, you know, is usually shown with a bow and arrow. Every first-year Latin student knows that. I still remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/the-roman-goddess-diana-you-know-is-usually-shown-with-a-bow-and/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I'll stay with movies as long as they keep me in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-ll-stay-with-movies-as-long-as-they-keep-me-in-hollywood/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [To make a man happy, treat him like a dog - plenty of affection and a loose leash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/to-make-a-man-happy-treat-him-like-a-dog-plenty-of-affection-and-a/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I danced with the Ballet Russe in Paris when I was 16 and did not need a companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-danced-with-the-ballet-russe-in-paris-when-i-was-16-and-did-not/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [I have never been extroverted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/i-have-never-been-extroverted/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [When I dance, people are watching for a slight mistake. I don't want them to see any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/when-i-dance-people-are-watching-for-a-slight-mistake-i-don-t-want/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) > [If I have any strength as a dancer, I got it all from Nijinska. Her barre was tough, and there were very difficult combinations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyd-charisse/if-i-have-any-strength-as-a-dancer-i-got-it-all-from-nijinska-her/) [Cyd Charisse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) [Explore all 93 Cyd Charisse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyd-charisse/) ## More Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Dancing is like ditchdigging, it's so strenuous. 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