--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't really dance for pleasure much.\"…" description: "\"I don't really dance for pleasure much.\" \"Uh--so you, uh, usually dance professionally, or what?\" Seb asked. \"Yeah,\" said Nick. \"The ballet is my passi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/sarah-rees-brennan-994_ballet_i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-u_777120.png" --- # I don't really dance for pleasure much." "Uh--so you, uh… ![“I don't really dance for pleasure much." "Uh--so you, uh, usually dance professionally, or what?" Seb asked. "Yeah," said Nick. "The ballet is my passion.” quote by Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/sarah-rees-brennan-994_ballet_i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-u_777120.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/sarah-rees-brennan-994_ballet_i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-u_777120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/sarah-rees-brennan-994_ballet_i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-u_777120.png) > “I don't really dance for pleasure much." "Uh--so you, uh, usually dance professionally, or what?" Seb asked. "Yeah," said Nick. "The ballet is my passion.” [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker finds joy in ballet, despite not dancing for pleasure, indicating dedication over personal enjoyment. **In simple terms:** Ballet is a duty, not fun. Key Takeaway Pursue passion even without pleasure. Themes dedication art professionalism identity Mood determined thoughtful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career decisions - creative pursuits - performance anxiety - personal fulfillment Key Concepts craftsmanship self-discipline artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - Why do you continue a craft you don't enjoy? - Can duty replace joy? A Different Perspective It may overlook the need for intrinsic motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ## Related quotes > [Ballet is my passion. I live it and breathe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/ballet-is-my-passion-i-live-it-and-breathe-it/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [“My skin tingles as I step into the music, give in to the icy thrill of pleasure that spreads through me whenever I dance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-venkatraman/my-skin-tingles-as-i-step-into-the-music-give-in-to-the-icy-thrill-of/) [Padma Venkatraman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-venkatraman/) > [I certainly love a boogie and once the music starts I'm usually one of the first out there on the dance floor. Although I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/i-certainly-love-a-boogie-and-once-the-music-starts-i-m-usually-one-2/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [I certainly love a boogie and once the music starts I'm usually one of the first out there on the dance floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/i-certainly-love-a-boogie-and-once-the-music-starts-i-m-usually-one/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Those truffled turkeys, of which the reputation and the price are still increasing, appear like beneficient stars, and make the eyes sparkle of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/those-truffled-turkeys-of-which-the-reputation-and-the-price-are/) [Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-anthelme-brillat-savarin/) > [If I wasn't going to be able to dance professionally, I wasn't going to dance. That's my all-or nothing personality coming out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-smith/if-i-wasn-t-going-to-be-able-to-dance-professionally-i-wasn-t-going/) [Phyllis Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-smith/) > [In order to dance professionally, you have to start at a young age. No matter what, your muscle structure and your bones have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-schull/in-order-to-dance-professionally-you-have-to-start-at-a-young-age-no-2/) [Amanda Schull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-schull/) > [I started dancing at the age of three in my hometown of Toledo, Ohio, and it really was my sister's dream to pursue dance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-stoner/i-started-dancing-at-the-age-of-three-in-my-hometown-of-toledo-ohio/) [Alyson Stoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-stoner/) > [I used to dance professionally in Delhi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanya-malhotra/i-used-to-dance-professionally-in-delhi/) [Sanya Malhotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanya-malhotra/) > [In order to dance professionally, you have to start at a young age. No matter what, your muscle structure and your bones have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-chen/in-order-to-dance-professionally-you-have-to-start-at-a-young-age-no/) [Joan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-chen/) > [I love drama. My passion is drama. It always has been. I love telling those sorts of stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-buzolic/i-love-drama-my-passion-is-drama-it-always-has-been-i-love-telling/) [Nathaniel Buzolic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-buzolic/) > [I think space, architectural space, is my thing. It's not about facade, elevation, making image, making money. My passion is creating space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-zumthor/i-think-space-architectural-space-is-my-thing-it-s-not-about-facade/) [Peter Zumthor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-zumthor/) > [I have all but killed myself for Photography. My passion for it is greater than ever. It's forty years that I have fought its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/i-have-all-but-killed-myself-for-photography-my-passion-for-it-is/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) > [I went mainstream in a major way with the song "Let's Dance." And what I found I had done was put a box around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-went-mainstream-in-a-major-way-with-the-song-let-s-dance-and-what-i/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [I've grown up with Bollywood, and I continue to enjoy it. But boxing remains my passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijender-singh/i-ve-grown-up-with-bollywood-and-i-continue-to-enjoy-it-but-boxing/) [Vijender Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijender-singh/) ## More by Sarah Rees Brennan > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“I saw strangers’ faces passing me, a brief sympathetic glance, a wolf whistle from a car at the soaking-wet girl. No help was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-saw-strangers-faces-passing-me-a-brief-sympathetic-glance-a-wolf/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Nick looked vaguely homicidal, but that was sort of his default expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/nick-looked-vaguely-homicidal-but-that-was-sort-of-his-default/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“You should wear whatever clothing you feel most comfortable in. Being comfortable in yourself is the best way to be attractive to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-should-wear-whatever-clothing-you-feel-most-comfortable-in-being/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Jared glared. Some people, Kami knew, had bedroom eyes. She was saddened to have to admit that Jared had filthy alleyway eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/jared-glared-some-people-kami-knew-had-bedroom-eyes-she-was-saddened/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“There was silence in her head and silence beneath her window, and still she could not sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/there-was-silence-in-her-head-and-silence-beneath-her-window-and/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“I'm not doing much, said Jared, warm in her mind, the amusement lingering. Just stuck in an elevator with this creepy Asian girl giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-m-not-doing-much-said-jared-warm-in-her-mind-the-amusement/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“The most annoying thing, perhaps, was that the elven troop were obviously good people and were being kind to them, and yet Elliot felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/the-most-annoying-thing-perhaps-was-that-the-elven-troop-were/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [She clenched her fist in his T-shirt, put her other arm around those too-broad, too-real shoulders. When he tried to pull away, she held…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/she-clenched-her-fist-in-his-t-shirt-put-her-other-arm-around-those/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [“You existing in the world is all I need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-existing-in-the-world-is-all-i-need/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [I don't want to seem ungrateful when you have given me this thoughtful, homemade and totally terrifying gift," Jamie told him. "But you can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-don-t-want-to-seem-ungrateful-when-you-have-given-me-this/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [She was kind of in love with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/she-was-kind-of-in-love-with-him/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Kami'd always retold her fairy tales to make the fair maidens braver and more self-sufficient, but she had never had any real objection to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/kami-d-always-retold-her-fairy-tales-to-make-the-fair-maidens-braver/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > ["Lay the knife at the tips of your fingers," Rob commanded. "So close youcan feel the blade against your skins. Then cut the shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/lay-the-knife-at-the-tips-of-your-fingers-rob-commanded-so-close/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) [Explore all 313 Sarah Rees Brennan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) ## More Ballet quotes > [“Afterwards Isabelle often wondered if the moments themselves were greater or the memory of them. At least the memory did not pass, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/afterwards-isabelle-often-wondered-if-the-moments-themselves-were/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) Fernando Bujones > [So I'm studying ballet every day and really training so people will see me as a ballet dancer, which no one's seen before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sutton-foster/so-i-m-studying-ballet-every-day-and-really-training-so-people-will/) [Sutton Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sutton-foster/) > [No matter the style, the farther one goes the more obstacles increase, and the more distant appears the object it is desired to attain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-georges-noverre/no-matter-the-style-the-farther-one-goes-the-more-obstacles-increase/) [Jean-Georges Noverre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-georges-noverre/) > [What I love most about ballet is being able to express my emotions through dance, and to be able to bring others joy through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-deprince/what-i-love-most-about-ballet-is-being-able-to-express-my-emotions/) [Michaela DePrince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-deprince/) > [It is not a question of who dances but of who or what does not dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-st-denis/it-is-not-a-question-of-who-dances-but-of-who-or-what-does-not-dance/) [Ruth St. Denis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-st-denis/) > [Ballet is pure and demands that you serve something larger than yourself, whether it be beauty or art, or a combination of both. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-martins/ballet-is-pure-and-demands-that-you-serve-something-larger-than/) Peter Martins > [Even though I am a professional, and I know what the steps are, I don't quite know how I'm going to do them, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-farrell/even-though-i-am-a-professional-and-i-know-what-the-steps-are-i-don-t/) [Suzanne Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-farrell/) > [I'd rather be a guy that can build a house or fix a car than be able to walk like a ballet dancer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-house-or-fix-a-car-than-be-able/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [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/) > [Bob's work gleaned from hoofing, from vaudeville, from ballet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-reinking/bob-s-work-gleaned-from-hoofing-from-vaudeville-from-ballet/) [Ann Reinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-reinking/) > [You can imagine me as a kid growing up in redneck Texas with ballet shoes, tucking the violin under my arm. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swayze/you-can-imagine-me-as-a-kid-growing-up-in-redneck-texas-with-ballet/) [Patrick Swayze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swayze/) > [I only started writing in the latter days of Spandau Ballet. I didnt know I could write because all had our roles within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hadley/i-only-started-writing-in-the-latter-days-of-spandau-ballet-i-didnt/) [Tony Hadley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hadley/) > [All ballet, all reading, all music. That was my world, my inner world,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-makarova/all-ballet-all-reading-all-music-that-was-my-world-my-inner-world/) [Natalia Makarova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-makarova/) > [I can dance. I like hip hop and stuff and jazz movements, but I'm horrible in ballet. I tried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keke-palmer/i-can-dance-i-like-hip-hop-and-stuff-and-jazz-movements-but-i-m/) [Keke Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keke-palmer/) [Browse all 1,227 Ballet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't really dance for pleasure much.\" \"Uh--so you, uh, usually dance professionally, or what?\" Seb asked. \"Yeah,\" said Nick. \"The ballet is my passion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sarah Rees Brennan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-uh-so-you-uh-usually-dance/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ballet" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-uh-so-you-uh-usually-dance/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/sarah-rees-brennan-994_ballet_i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-u_777120.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/sarah-rees-brennan-994_ballet_i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-u_777120.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cb/sarah-rees-brennan-994_ballet_i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-u_777120.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't really dance for pleasure much.\" \"Uh--so you, uh, usually dance professionally, or what?\" Seb asked…” — Sarah Rees Brennan", "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": "Sarah Rees Brennan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't really dance for pleasure...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-uh-so-you-uh-usually-dance/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-don-t-really-dance-for-pleasure-much-uh-so-you-uh-usually-dance/#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 } } ] } ```