--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dancing and building are the two primary…" description: "\"Dancing and building are the two primary and essential arts. The art of dancing stands at the source of all the arts that expressthemselves first in th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/havelock-ellis-3921_acting_dancing-and-building-are-the-two-primary_129689.jpg" --- # Dancing and building are the two primary and essential… ![“Dancing and building are the two primary and essential arts. The art of dancing stands at the source of all the arts that expressthemselves first in the human person. The art of building, or architecture, is the beginning of all the arts that lie outside the person; and in the end they unite…” quote by Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/havelock-ellis-3921_acting_dancing-and-building-are-the-two-primary_129689.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/havelock-ellis-3921_acting_dancing-and-building-are-the-two-primary_129689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/havelock-ellis-3921_acting_dancing-and-building-are-the-two-primary_129689.jpg) > “Dancing and building are the two primary and essential arts. The art of dancing stands at the source of all the arts that expressthemselves first in the human person. The art of building, or architecture, is the beginning of all the arts that lie outside the person; and in the end they unite. Music, acting, poetry proceed in the one mighty stream; sculpture, painting, all the arts of design, in the other. There is no primary art outside these two arts, for their origin is far earlier than man himself; and dancing came first.” [Havelock Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/havelock-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that dancing and building are foundational arts, with dancing predating all human expression and building shaping external art forms. **In simple terms:** Dance and architecture are core arts. Key Takeaway Recognize dance and building as foundational. Themes art origin human expression architecture dance Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical artistic When to use this quote - art education - urban design Key Concepts aesthetic theory cultural history Practical Applications - integrate movement in design - study dance origins Questions to Reflect On - Why is dance considered primary? - How does architecture reflect human expression? A Different Perspective Other arts may claim equal primacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Design](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/design/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Sculpture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sculpture/) ## Related quotes > [The art of dancing stands at the source of all the arts that express themselves first in the human person. 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