--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I cannot dance, O Lord, unless You lead me." description: "\"I cannot dance, O Lord, unless You lead me.\" — Mechthild of Magdeburg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/mechthild-of-magdeburg-29062_dance_i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me_403535.png" --- # I cannot dance, O Lord, unless You lead me. ![“I cannot dance, O Lord, unless You lead me.” quote by Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/mechthild-of-magdeburg-29062_dance_i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me_403535.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/mechthild-of-magdeburg-29062_dance_i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me_403535.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/mechthild-of-magdeburg-29062_dance_i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me_403535.png) > “I cannot dance, O Lord, unless You lead me.” [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine guidance is essential for spiritual expression. **In simple terms:** Only with God's lead can we truly dance. Key Takeaway Seek divine direction in life. Themes faith spirituality submission Mood reverent hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - prayer - meditation - rituals Key Concepts divine guidance humility trust Questions to Reflect On - How do you discern divine will? - Can faith coexist with personal ambition? A Different Perspective Reliance may limit personal agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dance Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-lord-3388387/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Leading me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leading-me/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Lord Unless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord-unless-3613020/) [Unless Lead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unless-lead-2562048/) ## Related quotes > [“The shadows come to dance my lord, dance my lord, dance my lord. The shadows come to stay my lord, stay my lord, stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-shadows-come-to-dance-my-lord-dance-my-lord-dance-my-lord-the/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Unless you're the lead dog the scenery doesn't change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/unless-you-re-the-lead-dog-the-scenery-doesn-t-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Oh you the creator, you the destroyer, you who sustain and make an end, Who in sunlight dance among the birds and the children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/oh-you-the-creator-you-the-destroyer-you-who-sustain-and-make-an-end/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [Unless you're lead dog, the scenery never changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/unless-you-re-lead-dog-the-scenery-never-changes/) [Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/) > [Lead me, Lord, to the Rock that is higher than I. 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I just ask God to lead me and show me and direct me and help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-never-know-tomorrow-what-i-might-be-doing-i-just-ask-god-to-lead-me/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/during-the-year-1957-i-experienced-by-the-grace-of-god-a-spiritual/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [Why you were born and why you are living depend entirely on what you are getting out of this world and what you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/why-you-were-born-and-why-you-are-living-depend-entirely-on-what-you/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [It's a weird partnership. For me and Patrick, if you've met him, we're not very much alike. But we bring such different tools to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-farmer/it-s-a-weird-partnership-for-me-and-patrick-if-you-ve-met-him-we-re/) [Todd Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-farmer/) > [I believe the simplest explanation is, there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/i-believe-the-simplest-explanation-is-there-is-no-god-no-one-created/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [Responsible Development shares many practices with XP but the roots are different. Responsible Development's values are honesty, transparency, accountability and responsibility. These lead me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-beck/responsible-development-shares-many-practices-with-xp-but-the-roots/) [Kent Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-beck/) ## More by Mechthild of Magdeburg > [From suffering I have learned this: that whoever is sore wounded by love will never be made whole unless she embraces the very same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/from-suffering-i-have-learned-this-that-whoever-is-sore-wounded-by/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [That prayer has great power which a person makes with all his might. It makes a sour heart sweet, a sad heart merry, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/that-prayer-has-great-power-which-a-person-makes-with-all-his-might/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [Prayer is naught else but a yearning of soul ... it draws down the great God into the little heart; it drives the hungry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/prayer-is-naught-else-but-a-yearning-of-soul-it-draws-down-the-great/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [The day of my spiritual awakening was the day I saw and knew I saw all things in God and God in all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/the-day-of-my-spiritual-awakening-was-the-day-i-saw-and-knew-i-saw/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [Stupidity is sufficient unto itself. Wisdom can never learn enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/stupidity-is-sufficient-unto-itself-wisdom-can-never-learn-enough/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [I was created in love. For that reason nothing can express my beauty nor liberate me except love alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/i-was-created-in-love-for-that-reason-nothing-can-express-my-beauty/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [If you love the justice of Jesus Christ more than you fear human judgment then you will seek to do compassion. Compassion means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/if-you-love-the-justice-of-jesus-christ-more-than-you-fear-human/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [I have seen a place-its name is Eternal Hatred It is built in the deepest abyss of the stones of mortal sin. Pride was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/i-have-seen-a-place-its-name-is-eternal-hatred-it-is-built-in-the/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [Those who would know much, and love little, will ever remain at but the beginning of a godly life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/those-who-would-know-much-and-love-little-will-ever-remain-at-but-the/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [The soul is made of love and must ever strive to return to love. Therefore, it can never find rest nor happiness in other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/the-soul-is-made-of-love-and-must-ever-strive-to-return-to-love/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [How should one live? Live Welcoming to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/how-should-one-live-live-welcoming-to-all/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [God, give me by Your grace what You give to dogs by nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/god-give-me-by-your-grace-what-you-give-to-dogs-by-nature/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [Fish cannot drown in water. Birds cannot sink in air. This has God given to all creatures, to foster and seek their own nature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/fish-cannot-drown-in-water-birds-cannot-sink-in-air-this-has-god/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [A Light of utmost splendor glows on the eyes of my soul. Therein have I seen the inexpressible ordering of all things, and recognized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/a-light-of-utmost-splendor-glows-on-the-eyes-of-my-soul-therein-have/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) > [One day I saw with the eyes of my eternity in bliss and without effort, a stone. It tasted sweet, like heavenly herbs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/one-day-i-saw-with-the-eyes-of-my-eternity-in-bliss-and-without/) [Mechthild of Magdeburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) [Explore all 18 Mechthild of Magdeburg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/) ## More Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I cannot dance, O Lord, unless You lead me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mechthild of Magdeburg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/mechthild-of-magdeburg-29062_dance_i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me_403535.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/mechthild-of-magdeburg-29062_dance_i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me_403535.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8f/mechthild-of-magdeburg-29062_dance_i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me_403535.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I cannot dance, O Lord, unless You lead me.” — Mechthild of Magdeburg", "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": "Mechthild of Magdeburg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mechthild-of-magdeburg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I cannot dance, O Lord, unless...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mechthild-of-magdeburg/i-cannot-dance-o-lord-unless-you-lead-me/#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 } } ] } ```