--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'd rather be a guy that can build a…" description: "\"I'd rather be a guy that can build a house or fix a car than be able to walk like a ballet dancer.\" — Travis Fimmel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/travis-fimmel-7107_ballet_i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-hou_25513.png" --- # I'd rather be a guy that can build a house or fix a car… ![“I'd rather be a guy that can build a house or fix a car than be able to walk like a ballet dancer.” quote by Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/travis-fimmel-7107_ballet_i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-hou_25513.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/travis-fimmel-7107_ballet_i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-hou_25513.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/travis-fimmel-7107_ballet_i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-hou_25513.png) > “I'd rather be a guy that can build a house or fix a car than be able to walk like a ballet dancer.” [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Values practical skill and tangible creation over aesthetic or performative ability, emphasizing utility and self-reliance. **In simple terms:** Prioritizes hands‑on competence over graceful movement. Key Takeaway Practical mastery beats style. Themes self‑reliance practicality skill acquisition value of labor authenticity Mood determined grounded pragmatic Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - building a home - repairing a vehicle - learning a trade - DIY projects - hands‑on problem solving Key Concepts craftsmanship manual work personal fulfillment social perception Practical Applications - career counseling - motivational speaking Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be 'useful' in society? - How do we balance aesthetic pursuits with practical needs? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able-walk-410502/) [Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) [Ballet dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet-dance/) [Ballet dancer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet-dancer/) [Build House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/build-house/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Fix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fix/) [Guy Build](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy-build-410501/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Like Ballet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-ballet-410500/) [Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk/) [Walk Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk-like/) ## Related quotes > [If I'm at a party, I can put on some crazy dance moves. However, it's not synchronized, beautiful or choreographed like a ballet dancer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sierra-mccormick/if-i-m-at-a-party-i-can-put-on-some-crazy-dance-moves-however-it-s/) [Sierra McCormick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sierra-mccormick/) > [How can you live the high life if you do not wear high heels? I don't understand why women wear these ballet pumps. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rykiel/how-can-you-live-the-high-life-if-you-do-not-wear-high-heels-i-don-t/) [Sonia Rykiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rykiel/) > [I used to get so comfortable running the hurdles, I was just like a ballet dancer going out there and going through the routines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-milburn/i-used-to-get-so-comfortable-running-the-hurdles-i-was-just-like-a/) [Rod Milburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-milburn/) > [I played soccer and baseball, and that's all. But what if I had been the best at like, ballet? And I didn't even know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-pratt/i-played-soccer-and-baseball-and-that-s-all-but-what-if-i-had-been/) [Spencer Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-pratt/) > [I think I like the artistry of the game. I still get a lot of pleasure watching the good-quality teams play, where the movements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-hodgson/i-think-i-like-the-artistry-of-the-game-i-still-get-a-lot-of-pleasure/) [Roy Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-hodgson/) > [I love dance; that's a big part of my life - like, ballet specifically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerris-dorsey/i-love-dance-that-s-a-big-part-of-my-life-like-ballet-specifically/) [Kerris Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerris-dorsey/) > [The minute we don't finance the arts, the accountants, attorneys and politicians keep taking the cream of money off the top and it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-dell-orefice/the-minute-we-don-t-finance-the-arts-the-accountants-attorneys-and/) [Carmen Dell'Orefice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-dell-orefice/) > [“For a moment the closing meeting was almost beautiful- like a ballet in space, like 2001. That was before it started, of course, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-winter/for-a-moment-the-closing-meeting-was-almost-beautiful-like-a-ballet/) [Guy Winter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-winter/) > [I need a big wave to really excel. The smaller stuff is a bit like...ballet for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/i-need-a-big-wave-to-really-excel-the-smaller-stuff-is-a-bit-like/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Badminton is like ballet dancing. It requires a lot of control, strength, mind play and measured movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aamir-khan/badminton-is-like-ballet-dancing-it-requires-a-lot-of-control/) [Aamir Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aamir-khan/) > [If you have to tell a story without speaking, it's sort of like - I come from a dance background, so it's like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-gayle/if-you-have-to-tell-a-story-without-speaking-it-s-sort-of-like-i-come/) [Sami Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-gayle/) > [To me, boxing is like ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-me-boxing-is-like-ballet-except-there-s-no-music-no-choreography/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know when you believe in Christmas? I was like that with ballet. I thought I would reach a level where I'd have enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-polunin/you-know-when-you-believe-in-christmas-i-was-like-that-with-ballet-i/) [Sergei Polunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-polunin/) > [Wrestling isn't like ballet; it's not about practicing a routine. You need to focus. You need to concentrate. You need to know your craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-henry/wrestling-isn-t-like-ballet-it-s-not-about-practicing-a-routine-you/) [Mark Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-henry/) > [On set, the playground for the character, how much it takes varies. Is it like ballet, is it like jazz? The content always lends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-dano/on-set-the-playground-for-the-character-how-much-it-takes-varies-is/) [Paul Dano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-dano/) ## More by Travis Fimmel > [People take years learning how to act; it's a skill, not just a job. If I tried it out and thought I'd be OK,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-take-years-learning-how-to-act-it-s-a-skill-not-just-a-job-if/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Religion is such a path with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/religion-is-such-a-path-with-people/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [You don't get recognized that much unless you want to get recognized, like if you go to the fancy joints and that. It's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/you-don-t-get-recognized-that-much-unless-you-want-to-get-recognized/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Good shows tend to be more fun to do. If you feel like you are doing something good and making a good show, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/good-shows-tend-to-be-more-fun-to-do-if-you-feel-like-you-are-doing/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I'm not good at concentrating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-m-not-good-at-concentrating/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I like cable: you only work four months out of the year and have the other eight months to do movies if you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-like-cable-you-only-work-four-months-out-of-the-year-and-have-the/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I love being an idiot, and acting lets you be an idiot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-love-being-an-idiot-and-acting-lets-you-be-an-idiot/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I wanted to re-examine stories people think they know without the rose-colored glasses of Hollywood and let the audience decide for themselves if people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-wanted-to-re-examine-stories-people-think-they-know-without-the/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I actually don't think Ireland has a summer. I never experienced a summer there. It was just so wet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-actually-don-t-think-ireland-has-a-summer-i-never-experienced-a/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [On 'Vikings,' nobody's got an ego. Michael Hirst is just so open and so collaborative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/on-vikings-nobody-s-got-an-ego-michael-hirst-is-just-so-open-and-so/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Your job as an actor, I guess, is just to make people relate to the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/your-job-as-an-actor-i-guess-is-just-to-make-people-relate-to-the/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I'm comfortable in any situation. I don't have fears about a lot of things. It's not a survival thing, but on a farm, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-m-comfortable-in-any-situation-i-don-t-have-fears-about-a-lot-of/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I don't like technology and all that. I'm a farm boy. I would rather live in that time when you had to provide for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-don-t-like-technology-and-all-that-i-m-a-farm-boy-i-would-rather/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [I'm always thinking I'm messing up. I did a lot of classes. I can't stand being on stage or the only one talking in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-m-always-thinking-i-m-messing-up-i-did-a-lot-of-classes-i-can-t/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [People have such a distinctive look to them these days. Whatever image they're doing, a lot of the time it sums up their character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/people-have-such-a-distinctive-look-to-them-these-days-whatever-image/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) [Explore all 94 Travis Fimmel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) > [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/) > [The dance, just as the performance of the actor, is kinesthetic art, art of the muscle sense. The awareness of tension and relaxation within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-arnheim/the-dance-just-as-the-performance-of-the-actor-is-kinesthetic-art-art/) [Rudolf Arnheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-arnheim/) [Browse all 1,227 Ballet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballet/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'd rather be a guy that can build a house or fix a car than be able to walk like a ballet dancer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Travis Fimmel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-house-or-fix-a-car-than-be-able/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ballet" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-house-or-fix-a-car-than-be-able/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/travis-fimmel-7107_ballet_i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-hou_25513.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/travis-fimmel-7107_ballet_i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-hou_25513.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/090/travis-fimmel-7107_ballet_i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-hou_25513.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'd rather be a guy that can build a house or fix a car than be able to walk like a ballet dancer.” — Travis Fimmel", "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": "Travis Fimmel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'd rather be a guy that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-house-or-fix-a-car-than-be-able/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-d-rather-be-a-guy-that-can-build-a-house-or-fix-a-car-than-be-able/#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 } } ] } ```