--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O give me new figures! I can't go on…" description: "\"O give me new figures! I can't go on dancing The same that were taught me ten seasons ago; The schoolmaster over the land is advancing, Then why is the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/thomas-haynes-bayly-27887_advancing_o-give-me-new-figures-i-can-t-go-on-danc_193820.png" --- # O give me new figures! I can't go on dancing The same that… ![“O give me new figures! I can't go on dancing The same that were taught me ten seasons ago; The schoolmaster over the land is advancing, Then why is the master of dancing so slow? It is such a bore to be always caught tripping In dull uniformity year after year; Invent something new, and you'll set…” quote by Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/thomas-haynes-bayly-27887_advancing_o-give-me-new-figures-i-can-t-go-on-danc_193820.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/thomas-haynes-bayly-27887_advancing_o-give-me-new-figures-i-can-t-go-on-danc_193820.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/thomas-haynes-bayly-27887_advancing_o-give-me-new-figures-i-can-t-go-on-danc_193820.png) > “O give me new figures! I can't go on dancing The same that were taught me ten seasons ago; The schoolmaster over the land is advancing, Then why is the master of dancing so slow? It is such a bore to be always caught tripping In dull uniformity year after year; Invent something new, and you'll set me a skipping: I want a new figure to dance with my Dear!” [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) ## 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 urges innovation in dance, rejecting stale tradition and urging fresh expression. **In simple terms:** Break old patterns, create new moves. Key Takeaway Embrace creativity, avoid monotony. Themes art tradition innovation Mood frustrated hopeful inspirational Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - dance rehearsals - teaching - performance art - personal growth Key Concepts creativity cultural stagnation Questions to Reflect On - What old habits limit your creativity? - How can you inspire others to try new approaches? A Different Perspective Change can be resisted by institutions, making innovation difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Seasons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seasons/) [Uniformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uniformity/) ## Related quotes > [Dance is in the air, pirouettes, very difficult. Mime is on the floor, like Spanish dancing perhaps, and very often in slow motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-marceau/dance-is-in-the-air-pirouettes-very-difficult-mime-is-on-the-floor/) [Marcel Marceau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-marceau/) > [We can't control systems or figure them out. But we can dance with them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donella-meadows/we-can-t-control-systems-or-figure-them-out-but-we-can-dance-with-them/) [Donella Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donella-meadows/) > [I was very shy, but when I performed, I felt like I was in my own little world. I became more confident. Dancing taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olga-fonda/i-was-very-shy-but-when-i-performed-i-felt-like-i-was-in-my-own/) [Olga Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olga-fonda/) > [The thing about dancing - what it taught me all those years - is it gives you an amazing sense of discipline in forcing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-thing-about-dancing-what-it-taught-me-all-those-years-is-it-gives/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [ “Any number of things were sure to go wrong—from tripping on the stairs and flashing the prince a sexy metal thigh,\[...\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/any-number-of-things-were-sure-to-go-wrong-from-tripping-on-the/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [High sticking, tripping, slashing, spearing, charging, hooking, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, interference, roughing…everything else is just figure skating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scotty-bowman/high-sticking-tripping-slashing-spearing-charging-hooking-fighting/) [Scotty Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scotty-bowman/) > [I usually go to Lush for hair products. I had no idea that this existed, but they have a shampoo rock, and it looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-serratos/i-usually-go-to-lush-for-hair-products-i-had-no-idea-that-this/) [Christian Serratos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-serratos/) > [Tripping is embarrassing, but I have learned that where we stumble is the place we dig for gold—where we trip is where the treasure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-miller/tripping-is-embarrassing-but-i-have-learned-that-where-we-stumble-is/) [Calvin Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-miller/) > [... when I am really alone some power seems to grow in me. ... Conjugality made me think of a three-legged race, where two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brenda-ueland/when-i-am-really-alone-some-power-seems-to-grow-in-me-conjugality/) [Brenda Ueland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brenda-ueland/) > [Maybe I'm ego-tripping, but I don't find myself a particularly horrible person, so I don't think I need to hold back anything I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/maybe-i-m-ego-tripping-but-i-don-t-find-myself-a-particularly/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [We're tripping because it's nothing like the beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaal/we-re-tripping-because-it-s-nothing-like-the-beginning/) [Jamaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaal/) > [And if travel is like love, it is, in the end, mostly because it's a heightened state of awareness, in which we are mindful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/and-if-travel-is-like-love-it-is-in-the-end-mostly-because-it-s-a/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [One thing that was very clear to me is that the young people in a place like Annawadi aren't tripping on caste the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-boo/one-thing-that-was-very-clear-to-me-is-that-the-young-people-in-a/) [Katherine Boo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-boo/) > [Kilometers are shorter than miles. Save gas, take your next trip in kilometers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/kilometers-are-shorter-than-miles-save-gas-take-your-next-trip-in/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“If the things behind you are tripping you, you're moving in the wrong direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/if-the-things-behind-you-are-tripping-you-you-re-moving-in-the-wrong/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) ## More by Thomas Haynes Bayly > [The mistletoe hung in the castle hall, The holly branch shone on the old oak wall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/the-mistletoe-hung-in-the-castle-hall-the-holly-branch-shone-on-the/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Absence makes the heart go fonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/absence-makes-the-heart-go-fonder/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Those that have wealth must be watchful and wary, Power, alas! naught but misery brings!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/those-that-have-wealth-must-be-watchful-and-wary-power-alas-naught/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Oh, pilot! 'tis a fearful night, There's danger on the deep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/oh-pilot-tis-a-fearful-night-there-s-danger-on-the-deep/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Prolonged absence makes the heart forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/absence-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder-prolonged-absence-makes-the-heart/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [We met, 'twas in a crowd, and I thought he would shun me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/we-met-twas-in-a-crowd-and-i-thought-he-would-shun-me/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Oh, I have roamed o'er many lands, And many friends I've met; Not one fair scene or kindly smile Can this fond heart forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/oh-i-have-roamed-o-er-many-lands-and-many-friends-i-ve-met-not-one/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Why don't the men propose, Mamma? Why don't the men propose?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/why-don-t-the-men-propose-mamma-why-don-t-the-men-propose/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Where's the hope that can abate The grief of hearts thus desolate That can Youth's keenest pangs assuage, And mitigate the gloom of Age?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/where-s-the-hope-that-can-abate-the-grief-of-hearts-thus-desolate/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Fear not, but trust in Providence, Wherever thou may'st be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/fear-not-but-trust-in-providence-wherever-thou-may-st-be/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Tell me the tales that to me were so dear, Long, long ago, long, long ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/tell-me-the-tales-that-to-me-were-so-dear-long-long-ago-long-long-ago/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [I'd be a butterfly; living a rover, Dying when fair things are fading away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/i-d-be-a-butterfly-living-a-rover-dying-when-fair-things-are-fading/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [I'm saddest when I sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/i-m-saddest-when-i-sing/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Surely 't is better, when summer is over To die when all fair things are fading away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/surely-t-is-better-when-summer-is-over-to-die-when-all-fair-things/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) > [Oh! where do fairies hide their heads, When snow lies on the hills, When frost has spoiled their mossy beds, And crystallized their rills?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haynes-bayly/oh-where-do-fairies-hide-their-heads-when-snow-lies-on-the-hills-when/) [Thomas Haynes Bayly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) [Explore all 20 Thomas Haynes Bayly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haynes-bayly/) ## More Advancing quotes > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [The average condition of the people improving or deteriorating, depends upon whether population is advancing faster than improvement, or improvement than population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/the-average-condition-of-the-people-improving-or-deteriorating/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [The problem with merely writing so that you can be understood is that the wrong people, in advancing their agendas, are only too ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/the-problem-with-merely-writing-so-that-you-can-be-understood-is-that/) [William A. 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Every next mission takes you farther out in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-believe-that-the-manned-space-program-can-engage-the-public-by/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Five qualities there are wine's praise advancing; Strong, beautiful, fragrant, cool and dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-harington/five-qualities-there-are-wine-s-praise-advancing-strong-beautiful/) [John Harington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-harington/) > [Ladies: Anne Hathaway is a feminist and she has amazing teeth. Let's save our bad attitudes for the ones who aren't advancing the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/ladies-anne-hathaway-is-a-feminist-and-she-has-amazing-teeth-let-s/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [Increasingly constructive doubt is the sign of advancing civilization. We must put question marks along many of our inherited legal dogmas, since they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-frank/increasingly-constructive-doubt-is-the-sign-of-advancing-civilization/) [Jerome Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-frank/) > [What's important is how we use our time on this earth, not how conspicuously we give our money away. What's important is the energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/what-s-important-is-how-we-use-our-time-on-this-earth-not-how/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) > [Advancing bourgeois society liquidates memory, time, recollection as irrational leftovers of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodor-adorno/advancing-bourgeois-society-liquidates-memory-time-recollection-as/) [Theodor Adorno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodor-adorno/) > [The real debate is we've had an activist court, and the American people don't want an activist court. And the real fear from those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-coburn/the-real-debate-is-we-ve-had-an-activist-court-and-the-american/) [Tom Coburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-coburn/) > [When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/when-one-has-made-a-decision-to-kill-a-person-even-if-it-will-be-very/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [The universe is deathless; Is deathless because, having no finite self, it stays infinite. 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