--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I had to make an impact on…" description: "\"I thought I had to make an impact on history. I had to become the greatest choreographer of my time. That was my mission. Posterity deals with us howev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/twyla-tharp-1069_choreographer_i-thought-i-had-to-make-an-impact-on-his_1033656.png" --- # I thought I had to make an impact on history. I had to… ![“I thought I had to make an impact on history. I had to become the greatest choreographer of my time. That was my mission. Posterity deals with us however it sees fit. But I gave it 20 years of my best shot.” quote by Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/twyla-tharp-1069_choreographer_i-thought-i-had-to-make-an-impact-on-his_1033656.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/twyla-tharp-1069_choreographer_i-thought-i-had-to-make-an-impact-on-his_1033656.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/145/twyla-tharp-1069_choreographer_i-thought-i-had-to-make-an-impact-on-his_1033656.png) > “I thought I had to make an impact on history. I had to become the greatest choreographer of my time. That was my mission. Posterity deals with us however it sees fit. But I gave it 20 years of my best shot.” [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She pursued a lifelong artistic mission, giving her best effort despite uncertain legacy. **In simple terms:** She gave her best for years despite uncertain legacy. Key Takeaway Commit fully to your craft. Themes art legacy dedication mission time Mood motivational reflective Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - choreography projects - teaching - collaborations - personal milestones Key Concepts creative process career longevity personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to keep creating? - How do you measure personal success? A Different Perspective Legacy is uncertain; effort matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choreographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choreographer/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Impact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impact/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I had to become the greatest choreographer of my time. That was my mission, and that's what I set out to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-had-to-become-the-greatest-choreographer-of-my-time-that-was-my/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [No other single innovation had so much impact on history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/no-other-single-innovation-had-so-much-impact-on-history/) [Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/) > [It took a while for me to grasp that my colleagues believe I have made an impact on the history of cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-hall/it-took-a-while-for-me-to-grasp-that-my-colleagues-believe-i-have/) [Conrad Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-hall/) > [My own physicality, not an abstract idea, makes me a choreographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/my-own-physicality-not-an-abstract-idea-makes-me-a-choreographer/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Recognition happens when you see yourself from the inside-out: as someone who can make an impact on the world instead of navigating the impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-musk/recognition-happens-when-you-see-yourself-from-the-inside-out-as/) [Justine Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-musk/) > [I think that, as athletes, sometimes we have the opportunities to make an impact. When it's authentic, I think there's room to share your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rodgers/i-think-that-as-athletes-sometimes-we-have-the-opportunities-to-make/) [Aaron Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rodgers/) > [If I can make an impact, I want to help some kids and bridge the gap between soccer and celebrity in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-zohn/if-i-can-make-an-impact-i-want-to-help-some-kids-and-bridge-the-gap/) [Ethan Zohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-zohn/) > [“We have an infinite ability to make an impact but we have a finite time here to make a difference and to leave some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-narofsky/we-have-an-infinite-ability-to-make-an-impact-but-we-have-a-finite/) [Thomas Narofsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-narofsky/) > [You want to make an impact and show what you're about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-butland/you-want-to-make-an-impact-and-show-what-you-re-about/) [Jack Butland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-butland/) > [I like doing things that make an impact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aquaria/i-like-doing-things-that-make-an-impact/) [Aquaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aquaria/) > [I make impact plays. I make game-changing plays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/i-make-impact-plays-i-make-game-changing-plays/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) > [As an actor, you think to yourself, 'I want to do good work,' but you also want the work that you do to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-smits/as-an-actor-you-think-to-yourself-i-want-to-do-good-work-but-you-also/) [Jimmy Smits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-smits/) > [I think that a leader is someone that needs to make an impact on, off the cricket field and in their lives as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautam-gambhir/i-think-that-a-leader-is-someone-that-needs-to-make-an-impact-on-off/) [Gautam Gambhir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautam-gambhir/) > [Who you are and the choices you make - how you choose to use your skills, how you put your values into practice, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-thomas-greenfield/who-you-are-and-the-choices-you-make-how-you-choose-to-use-your/) [Linda Thomas-Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-thomas-greenfield/) > [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) ## More by Twyla Tharp > [“A lot of habitually creative people have preparation rituals linked to the setting in which they choose to start their day. By putting themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/a-lot-of-habitually-creative-people-have-preparation-rituals-linked/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I have learned over the years that you should never save for two meetings what you can accomplish in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-have-learned-over-the-years-that-you-should-never-save-for-two/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I always find that the best collaborations are when you work with people that know what they're doing, and you leave them alone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-always-find-that-the-best-collaborations-are-when-you-work-with/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I don't mean this, but I'm going to say it anyway. I don't really think of pop art and serious art as being that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-don-t-mean-this-but-i-m-going-to-say-it-anyway-i-don-t-really-think/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [The art of these Fifties movies was in sustaining forever the moment before sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/the-art-of-these-fifties-movies-was-in-sustaining-forever-the-moment/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [This is not a pleasant route for many young people to consider. You have to be either hopelessly passionate, or very stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/this-is-not-a-pleasant-route-for-many-young-people-to-consider-you/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I often say that in making dances I can make a world where I think things are done morally, done democratically, done honestly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-often-say-that-in-making-dances-i-can-make-a-world-where-i-think/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I had received my first establishment grants in response to applications filed the year before. To the pages of baffling forms I had simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-had-received-my-first-establishment-grants-in-response-to/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I find the aesthetics of the 20th century hopelessly barren.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-find-the-aesthetics-of-the-20th-century-hopelessly-barren/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I don't think that scheduling is uncreative. I think that structure is required for creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-don-t-think-that-scheduling-is-uncreative-i-think-that-structure-is/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [I have always felt one of the things dance should do - its business being so clearly physical - is challenge the culture's gender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-have-always-felt-one-of-the-things-dance-should-do-its-business/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [There really is nothing I ever had access to that I didn't appreciate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/there-really-is-nothing-i-ever-had-access-to-that-i-didn-t-appreciate/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Destiny, quite often, is a determined parent. Mozart was hardly some naive prodigy who sat down at the keyboard and, with God whispering in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/destiny-quite-often-is-a-determined-parent-mozart-was-hardly-some/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [When it all comes together, a creative life has the nourishing power we normally associate with food, love and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/when-it-all-comes-together-a-creative-life-has-the-nourishing-power/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) > [Things change all the time, so why do people make such a philosophical to-do that things are constantly in transition?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/things-change-all-the-time-so-why-do-people-make-such-a-philosophical/) [Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) [Explore all 298 Twyla Tharp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/) ## More Choreographer quotes > [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/) > [I'm not a good choreographer: I can't remember what I put down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-o-connor/i-m-not-a-good-choreographer-i-can-t-remember-what-i-put-down/) [Donald O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-o-connor/) > [“O wayfarer! Yearn finds quench, not in meadows, seashores or altitude of mountain peaks; but when being and dance are one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/o-wayfarer-yearn-finds-quench-not-in-meadows-seashores-or-altitude-of/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [“If movements were a spark every dancer would desire to light up in flames.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/if-movements-were-a-spark-every-dancer-would-desire-to-light-up-in/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [“Burdened no more is soul for whom life flows through dance like breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/burdened-no-more-is-soul-for-whom-life-flows-through-dance-like-breath/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [It's called the Ailey American Dance Theatre, not the Alvin Ailey African-American Dance Theatre. One thing also that Alvin wanted people to recognize, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-jamison/it-s-called-the-ailey-american-dance-theatre-not-the-alvin-ailey/) [Judith Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-jamison/) > [“Dance as the narration of a magical story; that recites on lips, illuminates imaginations and embraces the most sacred depths of souls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/dance-as-the-narration-of-a-magical-story-that-recites-on-lips/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [Dancing was always part of my culture growing up in Barbados. When I shot my 1st video I worked really hard with my choreographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rihanna/dancing-was-always-part-of-my-culture-growing-up-in-barbados-when-i/) [Rihanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rihanna/) > [“One will sooner or later discover they are the choreographer of this dance we call life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-tevy/one-will-sooner-or-later-discover-they-are-the-choreographer-of-this/) Dawn Tevy > [In Hong Kong, particularly, we craft this art for decades. The action choreographer actually is the action director. He takes over and he choreographs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/in-hong-kong-particularly-we-craft-this-art-for-decades-the-action/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [“Through synergy of intellect, artistry and grace came into existence the blessing of a dancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/through-synergy-of-intellect-artistry-and-grace-came-into-existence/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [Till now, I've not had the chance to dance in my films, but in 'Tej I Love You,' I have to dance. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupama-parameswaran/till-now-i-ve-not-had-the-chance-to-dance-in-my-films-but-in-tej-i/) [Anupama Parameswaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupama-parameswaran/) > [“Dance resides within us all. Some find it when joy conquers sorrow, others express it through celebration of movements; and then there are those...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-asad-rizvi/dance-resides-within-us-all-some-find-it-when-joy-conquers-sorrow/) [Shah Asad Rizvi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shah-asad-rizvi/) > [You know when this guy explains the essence of dance to his students he isn’t faking it. But it’s when the choreographer-dancer’s takes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhash-k-jha/you-know-when-this-guy-explains-the-essence-of-dance-to-his-students/) Subhash K. Jha > [I was a choreographer in the '80s and I was doing these videos. I did an Extreme video, which was really weird having them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-shankman/i-was-a-choreographer-in-the-80s-and-i-was-doing-these-videos-i-did/) [Adam Shankman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-shankman/) [Browse all 124 Choreographer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choreographer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought I had to make an impact on history. I had to become the greatest choreographer of my time. That was my mission. Posterity deals with us however it sees fit. 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