--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have no literary approach - except to…" description: "\"I have no literary approach - except to literature.\" — George Balanchine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/george-balanchine-15814_approach_i-have-no-literary-approach-except-to-li_344152.png" --- # I have no literary approach - except to literature. ![“I have no literary approach - except to literature.” quote by George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/george-balanchine-15814_approach_i-have-no-literary-approach-except-to-li_344152.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/george-balanchine-15814_approach_i-have-no-literary-approach-except-to-li_344152.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac3/george-balanchine-15814_approach_i-have-no-literary-approach-except-to-li_344152.png) > “I have no literary approach - except to literature.” [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits a lack of formal literary method, relying solely on literature itself for inspiration. **In simple terms:** No formal method, just literature. Key Takeaway Embrace direct engagement with texts. Themes creativity artistic process learning Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - dance choreography - writing workshops - self‑study - literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - What benefits arise from learning without a structured approach? - How does immersion differ from formal study? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approach/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) ## Related quotes > [My claim is simply that the literary approach is one necessary way to read and interpret the Bible, an approach that has been unjustifiably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-ryken/my-claim-is-simply-that-the-literary-approach-is-one-necessary-way-to/) [Leland Ryken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-ryken/) > [“Why don’t we approach literature like we approach music and the fine arts?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/why-don-t-we-approach-literature-like-we-approach-music-and-the-fine/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [Literature transforms and intensifies ordinary language, deviates systematically from everyday speech. 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It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by George Balanchine > [See the music, hear the dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/see-the-music-hear-the-dance/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [Ballet dancing is arduous, strenuous activity. Students are engaged in physical training that rivals the training Olympic athletes undergo. At the same time, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/ballet-dancing-is-arduous-strenuous-activity-students-are-engaged-in/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [Storyless is not abstract. Two dancers on the stage are enough material for a story; for me, they are already a story in themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/storyless-is-not-abstract-two-dancers-on-the-stage-are-enough/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [“What are you waiting for? Now is all there is!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/what-are-you-waiting-for-now-is-all-there-is/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [The choreographer and the dancer must remember that they reach the audience through the eye. 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About itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/ballet-will-speak-for-itself-about-itself/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [I cannot move, I cannot even want to move, unless I hear the music first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/i-cannot-move-i-cannot-even-want-to-move-unless-i-hear-the-music-first/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [My muse must come to me on union time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/my-muse-must-come-to-me-on-union-time/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [The woman's function is to fascinate men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/the-woman-s-function-is-to-fascinate-men/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [What are you waiting for? What are you saving for? 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No teacher can work miracles, nor will years of training make a good dancer of an untalented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/one-is-born-to-be-a-dancer-no-teacher-can-work-miracles-nor-will/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) > [“Dancing is music made visible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-balanchine/dancing-is-music-made-visible/) [George Balanchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) [Explore all 42 George Balanchine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-balanchine/) ## More Approach quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. 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