--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I will never be the best dancer or…" description: "\"I will never be the best dancer or artist. I will be growing until the day I retire.\" — Misty Copeland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/misty-copeland-2012_art_i-will-never-be-the-best-dancer-or-artis_585533.png" --- # I will never be the best dancer or artist. I will be… ![“I will never be the best dancer or artist. I will be growing until the day I retire.” quote by Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/misty-copeland-2012_art_i-will-never-be-the-best-dancer-or-artis_585533.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/misty-copeland-2012_art_i-will-never-be-the-best-dancer-or-artis_585533.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/69d/misty-copeland-2012_art_i-will-never-be-the-best-dancer-or-artis_585533.png) > “I will never be the best dancer or artist. I will be growing until the day I retire.” [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal growth is a lifelong journey, not a competition for perfection. **In simple terms:** Growth continues beyond any title. Key Takeaway Focus on continual improvement. Themes growth perseverance self‑acceptance Mood determined reflective Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - career development - artistic practice - daily training - long‑term skill building Key Concepts mindset process over outcome Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure progress without a final benchmark? - What does “retire” mean for personal development? A Different Perspective May overlook short‑term achievements in pursuit of endless growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-growing-1296250/) [Being the best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-the-best/) [Best Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-dancer-265842/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer/) [Dancer Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancer-artist-1247307/) [Growing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing/) [Retire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retire/) [Retiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retiring/) ## Related quotes > [For me, a dancer is part of an artist's entertainment - 'backup dancer' isn't even in my vocabulary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurieann-gibson/for-me-a-dancer-is-part-of-an-artist-s-entertainment-backup-dancer/) [Laurieann Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurieann-gibson/) > [I set as my goal to be the best dancer I could be. Not the most famous, or the highest paid dancer, just the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/i-set-as-my-goal-to-be-the-best-dancer-i-could-be-not-the-most-famous/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [My only drive was to be the best dancer in the world, but I never won the world championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/my-only-drive-was-to-be-the-best-dancer-in-the-world-but-i-never-won/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [Failure would only be if you had somewhere stopped growing. As far as I can see the whole duty of the artist is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/failure-would-only-be-if-you-had-somewhere-stopped-growing-as-far-as/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [I thought I would be a visual artist when I was growing up, so I'm always up for a bit of experimentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roisin-murphy/i-thought-i-would-be-a-visual-artist-when-i-was-growing-up-so-i-m/) [Roisin Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roisin-murphy/) > [Listen up and I'll tell a story about an artist growing old. Some would try for fame and glory; others aren't so bold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-johnston/listen-up-and-i-ll-tell-a-story-about-an-artist-growing-old-some/) [Daniel Johnston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-johnston/) > [As an artist, you always have to be growing. You don't just want to do what you already know people like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-darnielle/as-an-artist-you-always-have-to-be-growing-you-don-t-just-want-to-do/) [John Darnielle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-darnielle/) > [Yeah, I guess for years I wanted to be an artist, and when I was growing up, lots of my family were artists, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-o-connor/yeah-i-guess-for-years-i-wanted-to-be-an-artist-and-when-i-was/) [Josh O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-o-connor/) > [My goal is to be the best TV presenter, the best entertainer, the best singer. I still want to be the best dancer. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/my-goal-is-to-be-the-best-tv-presenter-the-best-entertainer-the-best/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I have enjoyed the films directed by Prabhu Deva and simply love his choreography. And he is the best dancer India has. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sameera-reddy/i-have-enjoyed-the-films-directed-by-prabhu-deva-and-simply-love-his/) [Sameera Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sameera-reddy/) > [“I'm Exie and despite what you may hear I am the best dancer here. No one else compares. So, don't even think you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-loren/i-m-exie-and-despite-what-you-may-hear-i-am-the-best-dancer-here-no/) [Jennifer Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-loren/) > [I also had a will that let me eliminate everything that stood in the way of my becoming the best dancer I could be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-also-had-a-will-that-let-me-eliminate-everything-that-stood-in-the/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I prefer musicals, because I am the best dancer who ever lived. The best plies, the best sashays, and by far the best-smelling Capezios.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/i-prefer-musicals-because-i-am-the-best-dancer-who-ever-lived-the/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [I had many hobbies but now I only work on myself. I have to become the best dancer and actor and have the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/i-had-many-hobbies-but-now-i-only-work-on-myself-i-have-to-become-the/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [I was always the best actor and best dancer in my college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-dutta/i-was-always-the-best-actor-and-best-dancer-in-my-college/) [Divya Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-dutta/) ## More by Misty Copeland > [I traced the marley floor with my pointe shoes, and imagine myself on the stage, not as a member of the corps, but as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-traced-the-marley-floor-with-my-pointe-shoes-and-imagine-myself-on/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [When I was 16, I moved to Torrance, California to train at a more advanced studio, and by 19, I joined the American Ballet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/when-i-was-16-i-moved-to-torrance-california-to-train-at-a-more/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [To be empathetic to everyone around you, I think, is such a powerful thing to hold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/to-be-empathetic-to-everyone-around-you-i-think-is-such-a-powerful/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [My first ballet class was on a basketball court. I'm in my gym clothes and my socks trying to do this thing called ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/my-first-ballet-class-was-on-a-basketball-court-i-m-in-my-gym-clothes/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [There are muscles that we have in our feet that most human beings don't even know that we have. The strength that we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/there-are-muscles-that-we-have-in-our-feet-that-most-human-beings-don/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/be-strong-be-fearless-be-beautiful-and-believe-that-anything-is/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The woman represents ballet. She is most important, powerful and vital to it. Therefore, she is not "less than" a man. If anything she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-woman-represents-ballet-she-is-most-important-powerful-and-vital/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [If I'm put in a situation where I am not really sure what's going to happen, it can be overwhelming. I get a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/if-i-m-put-in-a-situation-where-i-am-not-really-sure-what-s-going-to/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I never experienced getting nervous on stage. I think I was most comfortable there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-never-experienced-getting-nervous-on-stage-i-think-i-was-most/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [The word "prodigy" was thrown around a lot, but I didn't understand what that meant, or the weight of it. It didn't really mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/the-word-prodigy-was-thrown-around-a-lot-but-i-didn-t-understand-what/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I think that the ideal physique and look of a ballerina is always changing with different eras. And it's continuing to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-think-that-the-ideal-physique-and-look-of-a-ballerina-is-always/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Once you become a professional, to get through a ballet like 'Swan Lake' - four acts as the lead, changing character - the perseverance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/once-you-become-a-professional-to-get-through-a-ballet-like-swan-lake/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [Perseverance has always just been something that was in me. And it was a tool that came in very handy as a ballerina.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/perseverance-has-always-just-been-something-that-was-in-me-and-it-was/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I was 17 when I moved to NYC . I'm now 32. But I do know I can't see myself living anywhere else. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-was-17-when-i-moved-to-nyc-i-m-now-32-but-i-do-know-i-can-t-see/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) > [I grew up poor in San Pedro, California, sleeping on the floor of shady motels with my five siblings and not always sure when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misty-copeland/i-grew-up-poor-in-san-pedro-california-sleeping-on-the-floor-of-shady/) [Misty Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) [Explore all 191 Misty Copeland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misty-copeland/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "I will never be the best dancer or artist. 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