--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I began to do this thing I do of giving…" description: "\"I began to do this thing I do of giving myself a class every day, and trying to experiment and push further. I don't mean to say I knew everything, bec..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/merce-cunningham-16180_day_i-began-to-do-this-thing-i-do-of-giving_997719.jpg" --- # I began to do this thing I do of giving myself a class… ![“I began to do this thing I do of giving myself a class every day, and trying to experiment and push further. I don't mean to say I knew everything, because I didn't, but I would do what I knew and then push beyond that and see what else I could find.” quote by Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/merce-cunningham-16180_day_i-began-to-do-this-thing-i-do-of-giving_997719.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/merce-cunningham-16180_day_i-began-to-do-this-thing-i-do-of-giving_997719.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/merce-cunningham-16180_day_i-began-to-do-this-thing-i-do-of-giving_997719.jpg) > “I began to do this thing I do of giving myself a class every day, and trying to experiment and push further. I don't mean to say I knew everything, because I didn't, but I would do what I knew and then push beyond that and see what else I could find.” [Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cunningham/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes a practice of daily self‑teaching, applying known skills, then deliberately extending beyond them to discover new possibilities. **In simple terms:** Learn, apply, then push beyond what you know. Key Takeaway Keep learning and expanding limits. Themes growth creativity discipline self‑directed learning Mood inspired focused Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - dance rehearsal - personal skill development - creative problem solving - academic research - entrepreneurial innovation Key Concepts embodied cognition experimentation continuous improvement Questions to Reflect On - What limits are you setting for your learning? - How do you balance mastery and experimentation? A Different Perspective May overlook foundational gaps if pushing too fast. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) ## Related quotes > [I love to experiment, to push myself, and I want people to accept me in roles that I have never attempted before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rishi-kapoor/i-love-to-experiment-to-push-myself-and-i-want-people-to-accept-me-in/) [Rishi Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rishi-kapoor/) > [It began as most thing begin. Not on a dark and stormy night. 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But I spend every day trying my damnedest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/i-will-never-be-worthy-of-her-but-i-spend-every-day-trying-my/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) ## More by Merce Cunningham > [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/) > [“Dance is an art in space and time. The object of the dancer is to obliterate that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merce-cunningham/dance-is-an-art-in-space-and-time-the-object-of-the-dancer-is-to/) [Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cunningham/) > [The most essential thing in dance discipline is devotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merce-cunningham/the-most-essential-thing-in-dance-discipline-is-devotion/) [Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cunningham/) > [I think anything can feed you, depending on the way you look at it or listen to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merce-cunningham/i-think-anything-can-feed-you-depending-on-the-way-you-look-at-it-or/) [Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cunningham/) > [“You have to love dancing to stick to it. 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