Advancing Quote by Ninette de Valois
“You never advance without losing something en passant... you lose it because you're paying so much attention to the new thing.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Dance Magazine, 1975
Progress often demands sacrifice; focusing on new goals can cause us to overlook what we already have.
In simple terms: Advancing requires letting go of some things.
Key Takeaway
Accept loss as part of growth.
Themes
change
loss
focus
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career transition
- learning a new skill
- relationship changes
- creative projects
Key Concepts
Opportunity cost
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- What are you willing to give up to move forward?
- How can you honor what you lose?
A Different Perspective
Neglecting existing strengths can hinder long‑term success.
![“I used to want to be a war photographer, and I used to want to be a ballerina and a comedian. I used to want to be a writer. I invalidated myself; it’s a mistake for me. [...] There’s just a lot of stuff that really moves me, and I don’t know how to express it, and I just want to try to do the…” quote by Cat Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/30a/cat-power-19278_ballerina_i-used-to-want-to-be-a-war-photographer_189452.jpg)
