--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't try to dance better than anybody…" description: "\"I don't try to dance better than anybody but myself.\" — Mikhail Baryshnikov" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_art-dance_i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody_488211.png" --- # I don't try to dance better than anybody but myself. ![“I don't try to dance better than anybody but myself.” quote by Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_art-dance_i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody_488211.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_art-dance_i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody_488211.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_art-dance_i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody_488211.png) > “I don't try to dance better than anybody but myself.” [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal improvement is a self‑competition, not against others. **In simple terms:** Compete with yourself to improve. Key Takeaway Focus on personal growth. Themes self‑improvement artistic development competition Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - dance practice - career development - goal setting - mental training Key Concepts psychology of motivation performance studies Questions to Reflect On - What personal benchmarks guide you? - How do you measure progress? A Different Perspective External standards can still influence self‑assessment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-dance/) [Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) [Ballet class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet-class/) [Ballet dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet-dance/) [Ballet dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet-dancer/) [Ballet dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet-dancing/) [Ballroom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballroom/) [Ballroom dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballroom-dance/) [Ballroom dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballroom-dancing/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Anybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-anybody-584654/) [Choreography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choreography/) [Classical dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classical-dance/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dance Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-better-586231/) [Dance class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-class/) [Dance life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance-life/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Dancers inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancers-inspiration/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Funny dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-dance/) [Great dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-dance/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspirational dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-dance/) [Just dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-dance/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Motivational dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational-dance/) [Music and dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-and-dance/) [Pointe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pointe/) [Pointe dancers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pointe-dancers/) [Try Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-dance-1241053/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) ## Related quotes > [Dance is the hidden langauge of the soul, of the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/dance-is-the-hidden-langauge-of-the-soul-of-the-body/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [Dance... enjoy each step along the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/dance-enjoy-each-step-along-the-way/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Nobody cares if you can't dance well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/nobody-cares-if-you-can-t-dance-well/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-do-not-try-to-dance-better-than-anyone-else-i-only-try-to-to-dance/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself. —MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-not-try-to-dance-better-than-anyone-else-i-only-try-to-dance/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Work like you don't need the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-joubert/work-like-you-don-t-need-the-money/) [Joseph Joubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-joubert/) > [Dance, dance, dance till you drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/dance-dance-dance-till-you-drop/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Dance till the stars come down from the rafters Dance, Dance, Dance 'till you drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/dance-till-the-stars-come-down-from-the-rafters-dance-dance-dance/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [Dance for yourself. If someone understands, good. If not, no matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-horst/dance-for-yourself-if-someone-understands-good-if-not-no-matter/) [Louis Horst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-horst/) > [My dance skills are reliant on me being a bit pickled in a nightclub, if I try to do a dance move sober it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whaite/my-dance-skills-are-reliant-on-me-being-a-bit-pickled-in-a-nightclub/) [John Whaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-whaite/) > [I'm not known as a singer, but in life I like to do things that are a bit beyond my reach to keep myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/i-m-not-known-as-a-singer-but-in-life-i-like-to-do-things-that-are-a/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [“Why, for mercy's sake, did boys try to dance who didn't know the first thing about dancing; and who had feet as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-m-montgomery/why-for-mercy-s-sake-did-boys-try-to-dance-who-didn-t-know-the-first/) [L.M. Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-m-montgomery/) > [Don't ever drink a lot of water right after you had your meal and try to dance.. Trust me it's deadly..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/don-t-ever-drink-a-lot-of-water-right-after-you-had-your-meal-and-try/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) > [Don't evr drnk 2 mch o' water ryt aftr u had ur meal n try to dance…trust me it's deadly..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sachithra/don-t-evr-drnk-2-mch-o-water-ryt-aftr-u-had-ur-meal-n-try-to-dance/) [Sachithra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sachithra/) > [Even if you're a guy and you don't believe in dancing, you should try dance cardio. It's really fun!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/even-if-you-re-a-guy-and-you-don-t-believe-in-dancing-you-should-try/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) ## More by Mikhail Baryshnikov > [I am not the first straight dancer or the last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-am-not-the-first-straight-dancer-or-the-last/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Working is living to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/working-is-living-to-me/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I was always interested in photography and other forms of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-was-always-interested-in-photography-and-other-forms-of-art/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [In the second part of life you get rid of stuff you've accumulated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/in-the-second-part-of-life-you-get-rid-of-stuff-you-ve-accumulated/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [You don't measure life by receiving awards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/you-don-t-measure-life-by-receiving-awards/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [No one is born a dancer. You have to want it more than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/no-one-is-born-a-dancer-you-have-to-want-it-more-than-anything/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I want to do exactly what I want to do. I'd rather gamble on the box office than beg for a grant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-want-to-do-exactly-what-i-want-to-do-i-d-rather-gamble-on-the-box/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I always had a kind of strange relationship with New York City, with total love affair in the beginning then retreat during the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-always-had-a-kind-of-strange-relationship-with-new-york-city-with/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [Running a company is pretty demanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/running-a-company-is-pretty-demanding/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I like the most provocative and most surprising partnerships on stage. Intensity and surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-like-the-most-provocative-and-most-surprising-partnerships-on-stage/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [When a body moves, it's the most revealing thing. Dance for me a minute, and I'll tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/when-a-body-moves-it-s-the-most-revealing-thing-dance-for-me-a-minute/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I - you know, I'm not an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-you-know-i-m-not-an-actor/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [If your only dance experience is the Nutcracker, it will be a shock; hopefully shocking in a good way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/if-your-only-dance-experience-is-the-nutcracker-it-will-be-a-shock/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [People dance at any age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/people-dance-at-any-age/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) > [I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-do-not-try-to-dance-better-than-anyone-else-i-only-try-to-to-dance/) [Mikhail Baryshnikov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) [Explore all 128 Mikhail Baryshnikov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/) ## More Art dance quotes > [Use the creative process - singing, writing, art, dance, whatever - to get to know yourself better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catie-curtis/use-the-creative-process-singing-writing-art-dance-whatever-to-get-to/) [Catie Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catie-curtis/) > [“If we are talking about the victory over evil and the launch of new creation, it won’t make much sense unless we are working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/if-we-are-talking-about-the-victory-over-evil-and-the-launch-of-new/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [Dance till the stars come down from the rafters Dance, Dance, Dance 'till you drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/dance-till-the-stars-come-down-from-the-rafters-dance-dance-dance/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [I think it started since I was born, I always had a need to express myself, you know, as a human being, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-meraz/i-think-it-started-since-i-was-born-i-always-had-a-need-to-express/) [Alex Meraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-meraz/) > [“I'd like to see North America become a dry, sunny, sandy region inhabited mainly by lizards, buzzards and a modest human population - about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/i-d-like-to-see-north-america-become-a-dry-sunny-sandy-region/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [“THE ARTS The arts are about the qualities of human experiences. Through music, dance, visual arts, drama, and the rest, we give form to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-robinson/the-arts-the-arts-are-about-the-qualities-of-human-experiences/) [Ken Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-robinson/) > [Dancing is a very living art. It is essentially of the moment, although a very old art. A dancer's art is lived while he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/dancing-is-a-very-living-art-it-is-essentially-of-the-moment-although/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [We have always created - music, literature, art, dance. The art around us - or lack of it - may be a measure of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gehry/we-have-always-created-music-literature-art-dance-the-art-around-us/) [Frank Gehry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gehry/) > [Dance in the most perishable of the arts. Ballets are forgotten, ballerinas retire, choreographers die--and what remains of that glorious production which so excited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-anderson/dance-in-the-most-perishable-of-the-arts-ballets-are-forgotten/) [Jack Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-anderson/) > [The dance is the mother of the arts. Music and poetry exist in time; painting and architecture in space. But the dance lives at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-sachs/the-dance-is-the-mother-of-the-arts-music-and-poetry-exist-in-time/) [Curt Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-sachs/) > [Hence it is from the representation of things spoken by means of posture and gesture that the whole of the art of dance has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/hence-it-is-from-the-representation-of-things-spoken-by-means-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Dance, dance, dance till you drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/dance-dance-dance-till-you-drop/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [We mainly focus on putting music, art, dance, theater, all forms of art, back into the community, so the community can put it into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/we-mainly-focus-on-putting-music-art-dance-theater-all-forms-of-art/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-watson-purkey/sing-like-there-s-nobody-listening-and-live-like-it-s-heaven-on-earth/) [William Watson Purkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-watson-purkey/) > [Honestly, without art and dance, I think I would be a very safe, black-and-white thinker. I wouldn't dare to take any risks or see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/honestly-without-art-and-dance-i-think-i-would-be-a-very-safe-black/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) [Browse all 31 Art dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't try to dance better than anybody but myself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mikhail Baryshnikov" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody-but-myself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody-but-myself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_art-dance_i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody_488211.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_art-dance_i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody_488211.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/mikhail-baryshnikov-3526_art-dance_i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody_488211.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't try to dance better than anybody but myself.” — Mikhail Baryshnikov", "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": "Mikhail Baryshnikov", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-baryshnikov/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't try to dance better...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody-but-myself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-baryshnikov/i-don-t-try-to-dance-better-than-anybody-but-myself/#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 } } ] } ```