--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It wasn't so much destroying my dancing…" description: "\"It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me\" — Tracey Emin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/tracey-emin-6953_dance_it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing_187061.jpg" --- # It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying… ![“It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me” quote by Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/tracey-emin-6953_dance_it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing_187061.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/tracey-emin-6953_dance_it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing_187061.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/tracey-emin-6953_dance_it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing_187061.jpg) > “It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me” [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The act of destroying one's art mirrors a deeper personal collapse, blurring the line between creative loss and self‑destruction. **In simple terms:** Destroying art feels like destroying oneself. Key Takeaway Protect creative work to safeguard self. Themes art self‑destruction identity Mood melancholic introspective Type philosophical emotive When to use this quote - performance art - personal crises - public exhibitions Key Concepts loss psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does losing a creation mean for personal identity? - Can destruction be a form of rebirth? A Different Perspective Art can be recovered; destruction may be irreversible. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing/) ## Related quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Aerobic dancing is already adjusting to injury problems and will probably phase out to some extent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-h-cooper/aerobic-dancing-is-already-adjusting-to-injury-problems-and-will/) [Kenneth H. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-h-cooper/) > [I simply do the things that inspire me, be that snowboarding, designing clothing, or dancing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-purdy/i-simply-do-the-things-that-inspire-me-be-that-snowboarding-designing/) [Amy Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-purdy/) > [My energy just couldn’t stop dancing. I was caught up in the music of struggle, and i wanted to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/my-energy-just-couldn-t-stop-dancing-i-was-caught-up-in-the-music-of/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > ['Dancing with the Stars' is awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-bryan/dancing-with-the-stars-is-awesome/) [Sabrina Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-bryan/) > [Dancing with death meant being committed to killing, committed with your heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-goodkind/dancing-with-death-meant-being-committed-to-killing-committed-with/) [Terry Goodkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-goodkind/) > [The adult who puts his arm around his companion in the ballroom, and the child in the roadway, skipping in a round dance -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-sachs/the-adult-who-puts-his-arm-around-his-companion-in-the-ballroom-and/) [Curt Sachs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-sachs/) > [I can let go of a lot of stuff, but I focus on things I think I should, like dancing, because it takes 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuan-yuan-tan/i-can-let-go-of-a-lot-of-stuff-but-i-focus-on-things-i-think-i-should/) [Yuan Yuan Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuan-yuan-tan/) > [There's no thinking involved in my choreography... I don't work through images or ideas. I work through the body... If the dancer dances, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merce-cunningham/there-s-no-thinking-involved-in-my-choreography-i-don-t-work-through/) [Merce Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merce-cunningham/) > [Do you know what it is sir? Do you know what the Dance Dance Revolution is? It's not an actual revolution, so you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-peters/do-you-know-what-it-is-sir-do-you-know-what-the-dance-dance/) [Russell Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-peters/) > [“What do you think of the ball?” her companion asked. “It is lovely,” Cinderella said. “What do you enjoy most? The dancing?” “The food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-m-shea/what-do-you-think-of-the-ball-her-companion-asked-it-is-lovely/) [K.M. Shea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-m-shea/) > [I'm very smart when it comes to choosing dancers and trying to show the world that there's a whole lot of dancing going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-jamison/i-m-very-smart-when-it-comes-to-choosing-dancers-and-trying-to-show/) [Judith Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-jamison/) > [To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/to-chase-the-glowing-hours-with-flying-feet/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [Everyone has seen people dancing all night. But take a man and make him dance for a quarter of an hour without music and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-de-saxe/everyone-has-seen-people-dancing-all-night-but-take-a-man-and-make/) [Maurice de Saxe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-de-saxe/) ## More by Tracey Emin > [Someone else who liked what I did might turn around and say, "She's reworking and rethinking everything. She could just be making blankets now,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/someone-else-who-liked-what-i-did-might-turn-around-and-say-she-s/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I know people went to laugh at my bed and to jeer at it. Still, at least they actually went to see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-know-people-went-to-laugh-at-my-bed-and-to-jeer-at-it-still-at/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [People don't remember. Revenge is sweet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/people-don-t-remember-revenge-is-sweet/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I'm a terrible cook, but if I could cook, I would see that in art as well, it's how much creative energy you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-m-a-terrible-cook-but-if-i-could-cook-i-would-see-that-in-art-as/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [For me, being an artist with a high profile is a good thing for art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/for-me-being-an-artist-with-a-high-profile-is-a-good-thing-for-art/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When you don't have children you have to define and make your own purpose, and make your own reason for being here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-you-don-t-have-children-you-have-to-define-and-make-your-own/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I really love animals. My cat is my little soul mate. He's not just a cat, he's my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-really-love-animals-my-cat-is-my-little-soul-mate-he-s-not-just-a/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [The reason why I'm popular as an artist in this country is because it suits the psyche of the nation at this time. Ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/the-reason-why-i-m-popular-as-an-artist-in-this-country-is-because-it/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [Most people don't do something seminal. I've done it twice: with my tent and my bed. Picasso did it with Cubism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/most-people-don-t-do-something-seminal-i-ve-done-it-twice-with-my/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I found that life has to be edited to continue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-found-that-life-has-to-be-edited-to-continue/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE THE PAST HEAD ON.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/don-t-be-afraid-to-take-the-past-head-on/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“I don’t believe in love, but I believe in you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-don-t-believe-in-love-but-i-believe-in-you/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [When it comes to words I have a uniqueness that I find almost impossible in art – and it's my words that actually make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/when-it-comes-to-words-i-have-a-uniqueness-that-i-find-almost/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [“He pulled my skirt up. I began to worry. Everyone knew he had broken in girls before and I didn't want it to happen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/he-pulled-my-skirt-up-i-began-to-worry-everyone-knew-he-had-broken-in/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [The words went round and round and round in my mind and my body, until I knew they were no longer my words but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/the-words-went-round-and-round-and-round-in-my-mind-and-my-body-until/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) [Explore all 96 Tracey Emin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) ## More Dance quotes > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [I studied all kinds of dance, all types of music. I got good grades. I started hitting the recording studio around 13.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/i-studied-all-kinds-of-dance-all-types-of-music-i-got-good-grades-i/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I like Sam Smith and Taylor Swift. I love pop music, but I also like Sam Smith's slow songs. That would be more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maddie-ziegler/i-like-sam-smith-and-taylor-swift-i-love-pop-music-but-i-also-like/) [Maddie Ziegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maddie-ziegler/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [I worked a lot in Chicago's theater scene as a fight choreographer. And so I do have a lot of experience in stage combat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-offerman/i-worked-a-lot-in-chicago-s-theater-scene-as-a-fight-choreographer/) [Nick Offerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-offerman/) > [“dances with mine as if we’ve been doing this our whole”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-michaels/dances-with-mine-as-if-we-ve-been-doing-this-our-whole/) [Corinne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-michaels/) > [My body was so instrumental to how I took pictures: it was practically a dance. I used to use my legs a lot; now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-body-was-so-instrumental-to-how-i-took-pictures-it-was-practically/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [I would rather learn from one bird how to sing than to teach 10,000 stars how not to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-e-cummings/i-would-rather-learn-from-one-bird-how-to-sing-than-to-teach-10-000/) [e. e. cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-e-cummings/) > [If you dance, you dance because you have to. Every dancer hurts, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-dunham/if-you-dance-you-dance-because-you-have-to-every-dancer-hurts-you-know/) [Katherine Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-dunham/) > [I'm not a dancer. Never took a dance class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrishell-stause/i-m-not-a-dancer-never-took-a-dance-class/) [Chrishell Stause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrishell-stause/) > [Being fit is the easiest part of being a dance professional. I used to just throw on a backpack full of rocks and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-du-beke/being-fit-is-the-easiest-part-of-being-a-dance-professional-i-used-to/) [Anton du Beke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-du-beke/) > [I'm a horrible dancer, but I wanted to record songs that made me want to dance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lane/i-m-a-horrible-dancer-but-i-wanted-to-record-songs-that-made-me-want/) [Chris Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lane/) [Browse all 9,682 Dance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tracey Emin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing-it-was-destroying-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing-it-was-destroying-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/tracey-emin-6953_dance_it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing_187061.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/tracey-emin-6953_dance_it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing_187061.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/771/tracey-emin-6953_dance_it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing_187061.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It wasn't so much destroying my dancing, it was destroying me” — Tracey Emin", "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": "Tracey Emin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It wasn't so much destroying my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing-it-was-destroying-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/it-wasn-t-so-much-destroying-my-dancing-it-was-destroying-me/#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 } } ] } ```