--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always had an innate ability to…" description: "\"I've always had an innate ability to dance, but I'm not as spiffy as those cinema legends like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.\" — John Travolta" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/john-travolta-3052_ability_i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dan_956607.jpg" --- # I've always had an innate ability to dance, but I'm not as… ![“I've always had an innate ability to dance, but I'm not as spiffy as those cinema legends like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.” quote by John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/john-travolta-3052_ability_i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dan_956607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/john-travolta-3052_ability_i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dan_956607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/john-travolta-3052_ability_i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dan_956607.jpg) > “I've always had an innate ability to dance, but I'm not as spiffy as those cinema legends like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.” [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) ## 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 acknowledges natural talent but admits it falls short of legendary masters. **In simple terms:** I can dance, but not like the greats. Key Takeaway Recognize talent, keep practicing. Themes humility self-awareness artistry Mood reflective determined Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - dance classes - personal practice - performance preparation Key Concepts talent comparison growth Questions to Reflect On - How can you bridge the gap between talent and mastery? - What steps will you take to improve? A Different Perspective Talent alone isn’t enough without disciplined effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Cinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinema/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Legends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legends/) ## Related quotes > [We sometimes think of being good at mathematics as an innate ability. You either have "it" or you don't. But to Schoenfeld, it's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/we-sometimes-think-of-being-good-at-mathematics-as-an-innate-ability/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [Every woman's innate ability to let anything go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-macfarlane/every-woman-s-innate-ability-to-let-anything-go/) [Seth MacFarlane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-macfarlane/) > [What often separates the good from the great is a layer of innate ability, a gift, so it's partly that. There's many people with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rankin/what-often-separates-the-good-from-the-great-is-a-layer-of-innate/) [Paul Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rankin/) > [I realized a while back that I have an innate ability to be compassionate, and I saw that the strength of compassion is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-williams/i-realized-a-while-back-that-i-have-an-innate-ability-to-be/) [Ricky Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-williams/) > [You had to work tremendously hard. You had to have that commitment to training, you had to have that innate ability. It's similar in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rankin/you-had-to-work-tremendously-hard-you-had-to-have-that-commitment-to/) [Paul Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rankin/) > [Enthusiasm is more important to mastery than innate ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/enthusiasm-is-more-important-to-mastery-than-innate-ability/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Choose to make up for what you lack in innate ability with discipline, hard work, and good habits. Become a creature of champion habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/choose-to-make-up-for-what-you-lack-in-innate-ability-with-discipline/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [Fred Astaire was my dream dancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/fred-astaire-was-my-dream-dancer/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I wish I was born in that era: dancing with Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, going to work at the studio dressed in beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/i-wish-i-was-born-in-that-era-dancing-with-fred-astaire-and-gene/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [If Fred Astaire is the Cary Grant of dance, I'm the Marlon Brando.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/if-fred-astaire-is-the-cary-grant-of-dance-i-m-the-marlon-brando/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [I guess the only jewels of my life were the pictures I made with Fred Astaire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-hayworth/i-guess-the-only-jewels-of-my-life-were-the-pictures-i-made-with-fred/) [Rita Hayworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-hayworth/) > [I felt Michael Jackson was inspired a little bit more from the elegance of a Fred Astaire. Michael loved Sammy Davis, Jr. and James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-ortega/i-felt-michael-jackson-was-inspired-a-little-bit-more-from-the/) [Kenny Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-ortega/) > [ “Sure, \[Fred Astaire\] was great, but don't forget that Ginger Rogers did everything that he did… backwards and in high heels.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-thaves/sure-fred-astaire-was-great-but-don-t-forget-that-ginger-rogers-did/) Robert Thaves > [Obviously, Fred Astaire was a legend. I've tried to copy some of his movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/obviously-fred-astaire-was-a-legend-i-ve-tried-to-copy-some-of-his/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [As a dancer, obviously, we are all inspired by Michael Jackson, and I always looked up to Gene Kelly. He was a bigger version…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maksim-chmerkovskiy/as-a-dancer-obviously-we-are-all-inspired-by-michael-jackson-and-i/) [Maksim Chmerkovskiy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maksim-chmerkovskiy/) ## More by John Travolta > [To Americans religious freedom is sacred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/to-americans-religious-freedom-is-sacred/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [Playing a bad guy is always a freeing experience, because you don't have the same envelope of restrictions as you have playing a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/playing-a-bad-guy-is-always-a-freeing-experience-because-you-don-t/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [I think my friend Tom Hanks knows me. He understands me very well. He's always had a sort of parental feeling toward me. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-think-my-friend-tom-hanks-knows-me-he-understands-me-very-well-he-s/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [I am not at all computer literate in real life. I haven't yet found a reason to be. 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But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. 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Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always had an innate ability to dance, but I'm not as spiffy as those cinema legends like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Travolta" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dance-but-i-m-not-as-spiffy-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dance-but-i-m-not-as-spiffy-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/john-travolta-3052_ability_i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dan_956607.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/john-travolta-3052_ability_i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dan_956607.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f79/john-travolta-3052_ability_i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dan_956607.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've always had an innate ability to dance, but I'm not as spiffy as those cinema legends like Gene Kelly…” — John Travolta", "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": "John Travolta", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've always had an innate ability...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dance-but-i-m-not-as-spiffy-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-ve-always-had-an-innate-ability-to-dance-but-i-m-not-as-spiffy-as/#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 } } ] } ```