---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a vitality, a life force, an…"
description: "\"“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martha-graham-2832_art_there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-ener_2518028.jpg"
---

#  There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening…

![“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it…” quote by Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martha-graham-2832_art_there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-ener_2518028.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martha-graham-2832_art_there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-ener_2518028.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martha-graham-2832_art_there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-ener_2518028.jpg)

> ““There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. \[There is\] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others””

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Creative energy is a unique, personal force that must stay open and unblocked to drive authentic expression.

**In simple terms:** Your unique creative force must stay open.

Key Takeaway

Keep your creative channel open.

Themes

creativity authenticity self‑expression

Mood

reflective inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- artistic work
- personal projects
- creative blocks
- self‑discovery

Key Concepts

personal energy unique expression artistic drive

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you keep your creative channel open?
- What blocks your personal expression?

A Different Perspective

If you suppress it, the world loses a unique contribution.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/)

## Related quotes

> [“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-energy-a-quickening-that-is-4/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-a-quickening-that-is-translated/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/you-do-not-even-have-to-believe-in-yourself-or-your-work-you-have-to/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-energy-a-quickening-that-is/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-a-quickening-that-is-translated-2/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [If you open yourself as an artist, as a human being to this experience of growing, you grow anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/if-you-open-yourself-as-an-artist-as-a-human-being-to-this-experience/)

[Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/)

> [I grew up years ago doing something that unfortunately doesn't hardly exist any more, a medium called Radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-stack/i-grew-up-years-ago-doing-something-that-unfortunately-doesn-t-hardly/)

[Robert Stack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-stack/)

> [“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-energy-a-quickening-that-is-5/)

[Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/)

> [“It is not the actual, physical exertion that counts towards one’s progress, not the nature of the task but by the spirit of faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-the-actual-physical-exertion-that-counts-towards-one-s/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I know how important it is to have people who believe in you even when you don't believe in yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/i-know-how-important-it-is-to-have-people-who-believe-in-you-even/)

[Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/)

> [If you want to work on getting better, you need to start by knowing where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-want-to-work-on-getting-better-you-need-to-start-by-knowing/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Never be desperate. Get rid of your insecurities. Know your worth. Believe in yourself and go get what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-be-desperate-get-rid-of-your-insecurities-know-your-worth/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The world will only begin to have faith in you when you do too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-world-will-only-begin-to-have-faith-in-you-when-you-do-too/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/)

[Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/)

> [If you hate yourself... The world will hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/if-you-hate-yourself-the-world-will-hate-you/)

[Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/)

## More by Martha Graham

> [The body never lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-body-never-lies/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [You have no right to go before a public without an adequate technique, just because you feel. Anything feels - a leaf feels, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/you-have-no-right-to-go-before-a-public-without-an-adequate-technique/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-energy-a-quickening-that-is/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [Misery is a communicable disease.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/misery-is-a-communicable-disease/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [People have asked me why I chose to be a dancer. I did not choose. I was chosen to be a dancer, and with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/people-have-asked-me-why-i-chose-to-be-a-dancer-i-did-not-choose-i/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [All things I do are in every woman. Every woman is Medea. Every woman is Jocasta. There comes a time when a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/all-things-i-do-are-in-every-woman-every-woman-is-medea-every-woman/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [The body is shaped, disciplined, honored, and in time, trusted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-body-is-shaped-disciplined-honored-and-in-time-trusted/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [The secret to dancing is that it is about everything except dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-secret-to-dancing-is-that-it-is-about-everything-except-dancing/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [What makes a great dancer is not technique. What makes a great dancer is passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/what-makes-a-great-dancer-is-not-technique-what-makes-a-great-dancer/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [The body is a sacred garment. It's your first and last garment; it is what you enter life in and what you depart life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-body-is-a-sacred-garment-it-s-your-first-and-last-garment-it-is/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [You are unique, and if that is not fulfilled, then something has been lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/you-are-unique-and-if-that-is-not-fulfilled-then-something-has-been/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [You see, when weaving a blanket, an Indian woman leaves a flaw in the weaving of that blanket to let the soul out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/you-see-when-weaving-a-blanket-an-indian-woman-leaves-a-flaw-in-the/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [Dancing is just discovery, discovery, discovery - what it all means, the way the little bone near the ankle relates itself to the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/dancing-is-just-discovery-discovery-discovery-what-it-all-means-the/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [Theater used to be a verb; it used to be an act. But nowadays it is just a noun. It is a place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/theater-used-to-be-a-verb-it-used-to-be-an-act-but-nowadays-it-is/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

> [There is a force, a quickness that is translated through you into action. If you block it, the world will not have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-force-a-quickness-that-is-translated-through-you-into/)

[Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

[Explore all 148 Martha Graham quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/)

## More Art quotes

> [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/)

[Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/)

> [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/)

[Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/)

> [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/)

[Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/)

> [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/)

[Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/)

> [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/)

Taf Teh

> [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/)

[Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/)

> [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/)

[Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/)

> [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. 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/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/)

[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/)

> [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/)

[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/)

> [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/)

[Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/)

[Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. ... No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Martha Graham"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-energy-a-quickening-that-is-6/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-energy-a-quickening-that-is-6/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martha-graham-2832_art_there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-ener_2518028.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martha-graham-2832_art_there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-ener_2518028.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/363/martha-graham-2832_art_there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-ener_2518028.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and…” — Martha Graham",
                "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": "Martha Graham",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“There is a vitality, a life...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-energy-a-quickening-that-is-6/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/there-is-a-vitality-a-life-force-an-energy-a-quickening-that-is-6/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
