--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you start with an idea, or something…" description: "\"When you start with an idea, or something hits you, then you have to follow that through to the end, and it's the following through to the end that mak..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/martha-graham-2832_choreography_when-you-start-with-an-idea-or-something_1646841.jpg" --- # When you start with an idea, or something hits you, then… ![“When you start with an idea, or something hits you, then you have to follow that through to the end, and it's the following through to the end that makes the pattern. That, for me, is choreography.” quote by Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/martha-graham-2832_choreography_when-you-start-with-an-idea-or-something_1646841.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/martha-graham-2832_choreography_when-you-start-with-an-idea-or-something_1646841.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ed/martha-graham-2832_choreography_when-you-start-with-an-idea-or-something_1646841.jpg) > “When you start with an idea, or something hits you, then you have to follow that through to the end, and it's the following through to the end that makes the pattern. That, for me, is choreography.” [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. Creating a pattern requires following an idea through to completion, which the speaker likens to choreography. **In simple terms:** Follow ideas to their end. Key Takeaway Complete ideas fully. Themes creativity process discipline Mood reflective inspirational Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - project development - artistic creation - learning new skills Key Concepts artistic theory workflow Questions to Reflect On - How does finishing a concept shape its form? - What obstacles hinder following through? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choreography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choreography/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Follow through](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-through/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Pattern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pattern/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) ## Related quotes > [“This isn’t a fairy tale. This is reality. If you two end up following your hearts and not your heads, it’ll end in disaster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/this-isn-t-a-fairy-tale-this-is-reality-if-you-two-end-up-following/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Chase the vision, not the money, the money will end up following you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/chase-the-vision-not-the-money-the-money-will-end-up-following-you/) [Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/) > [The secret of the world is this: the world is entirely circular and you will go round and round endlessly, never finding what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/the-secret-of-the-world-is-this-the-world-is-entirely-circular-and/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Once you have the pattern of life of this person, the choreography, so to speak, you have the canvas that you present eight times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lavin/once-you-have-the-pattern-of-life-of-this-person-the-choreography-so/) [Linda Lavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lavin/) > [The main thing, of course, always, is the fact that there is only one of you in the world, just one, and if that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/the-main-thing-of-course-always-is-the-fact-that-there-is-only-one-of/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [This is following through on the market correction and a lot of mixed emotions, ... We had players who were with us in '03…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-beinfest/this-is-following-through-on-the-market-correction-and-a-lot-of-mixed/) Larry Beinfest > [With vision only, you get no follow-through. With enforcers only, the vision is realized but leaves a lot of wreckage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/with-vision-only-you-get-no-follow-through-with-enforcers-only-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [If I did only what I wanted to do, I would not be obedient to the Creator. Sometimes He wants us to do certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/if-i-did-only-what-i-wanted-to-do-i-would-not-be-obedient-to-the/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I released that I could crank out a song if I practiced it a lot. If I am in the practice of writing songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-hest/i-released-that-i-could-crank-out-a-song-if-i-practiced-it-a-lot-if-i/) Ari Hest > [ I am here \[in Washington\] following through on what I pledged to do. That's all I'm doing. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-am-here-in-washington-following-through-on-what-i-pledged-to-do/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Human beings absolutely follow through on who they believe they are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/human-beings-absolutely-follow-through-on-who-they-believe-they-are/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [What makes success is not your genius idea, but the execution and follow-through around it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/what-makes-success-is-not-your-genius-idea-but-the-execution-and/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Actually, now I don't even eat that much anymore. If you tried to follow me now, you'd be in trouble. You wouldn't be able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-albarado/actually-now-i-don-t-even-eat-that-much-anymore-if-you-tried-to/) Robby Albarado > [The young and dynamic and idealistic people in the square do not have the chance to organise themselves politically, to be able to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-young-and-dynamic-and-idealistic-people-in-the-square-do-not-have/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [This golfer has a wicked slice. And quite a follow-through. That's why his partner, who stood too close, Is on the green in two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armour/this-golfer-has-a-wicked-slice-and-quite-a-follow-through-that-s-why/) [Richard Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armour/) ## 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 Choreography quotes > [There's no thinking involved in my choreography... I don't work through images or ideas. I work through the body... If the dancer dances, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merce-cunningham/there-s-no-thinking-involved-in-my-choreography-i-don-t-work-through/) [Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cunningham/) > [I have been doing choreography my whole life, and it's so important to make that marriage between music and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-angelique/i-have-been-doing-choreography-my-whole-life-and-it-s-so-important-to/) [Dawn Angelique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-angelique/) > [There is a clearing for new creative thought in choreography. I don't feel intimidated; there is a lot I can do that is new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-peck/there-is-a-clearing-for-new-creative-thought-in-choreography-i-don-t/) [Justin Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-peck/) > [The body moves through space every day, and in architecture in cities that can be orchestrated. Not in a dictatorial fashion, but in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-predock/the-body-moves-through-space-every-day-and-in-architecture-in-cities/) [Antoine Predock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-predock/) > [I am absolutely desperate to do an action movie. And not to blow my own trumpet or anything, but I actually think I'm good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-james/i-am-absolutely-desperate-to-do-an-action-movie-and-not-to-blow-my/) [Lily James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-james/) > [speaking with, uh, about the vocal choreography, one of the first groups that I worked with was a group called the Cadillacs, which was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cholly-atkins/speaking-with-uh-about-the-vocal-choreography-one-of-the-first-groups/) [Cholly Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cholly-atkins/) > [“It’s a choreography of sorts: some birds, her mother once told her, dance before they mate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-vyleta/it-s-a-choreography-of-sorts-some-birds-her-mother-once-told-her/) Dan Vyleta > [I couldn't pick up a sword and go fight anyone, let me put it that way. It's choreography and it's acting. The best sword…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-couldn-t-pick-up-a-sword-and-go-fight-anyone-let-me-put-it-that-way/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [I tell stories through dance, and I think that's why I'm so attracted to the theatre because even the choreography in theatre moves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stroman/i-tell-stories-through-dance-and-i-think-that-s-why-i-m-so-attracted/) [Susan Stroman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stroman/) > [I'd never really shot action scenes before, but I realized early on that is very much like shooting choreography and dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-akerlund/i-d-never-really-shot-action-scenes-before-but-i-realized-early-on/) [Jonas Akerlund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-akerlund/) > [I've been designing since I was 8. I started sketching dresses I could wear when skating. I was always involved in all aspects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-wang/i-ve-been-designing-since-i-was-8-i-started-sketching-dresses-i-could/) [Vera Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-wang/) > [I learnt a lot from my Broadway experience, it was one of the most challenging things I will probably ever have to do in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-grande/i-learnt-a-lot-from-my-broadway-experience-it-was-one-of-the-most/) [Ariana Grande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-grande/) > [“O wayfarer! Yearn finds quench, not in meadows, seashores or altitude of mountain peaks; but when being and dance are one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/o-wayfarer-yearn-finds-quench-not-in-meadows-seashores-or-altitude-of/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [“If movements were a spark every dancer would desire to light up in flames.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/if-movements-were-a-spark-every-dancer-would-desire-to-light-up-in/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [Music. Close your eyes and it's a rosebush blooming in time lapse so that it shoots and blossoms flow outward in a swift choreography…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/music-close-your-eyes-and-it-s-a-rosebush-blooming-in-time-lapse-so/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) [Browse all 245 Choreography quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choreography/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you start with an idea, or something hits you, then you have to follow that through to the end, and it's the following through to the end that makes the pattern. 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