“I think dancers are paid not for what they do, but for the fear they feel. What you do is probably not that difficult: you just get on stage. It is, however, fear that gives you the push.”

—  Rudolf Nureyev

Source: Gervaso, Roberto. La mosca al naso, Rizzoli Editore (1980)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Feb. 4, 2026. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "I think dancers are paid not for what they do, but for the fear they feel. What you do is probably not that difficult: …" by Rudolf Nureyev?
Rudolf Nureyev photo
Rudolf Nureyev9
Soviet ballet dancer and choreographer 1938–1993

Related quotes

Joyce Meyer photo

“Just because you feel fear doesn't mean you can't do it. Do it afraid”

Joyce Meyer (1943) American author and speaker

David Levithan photo

“Getting what you want is just as difficult as not getting what you want. Because then you have to figure out what to do with it instead of figuring out what to do without it.”

David Levithan The Realm of Possibility

Source: The Realm of Possibility

Josh Homme photo

“I get scared all the time. I try not to let it have any impact on the decision of whether to do it or not. I think you can separate yourself from your fears. You know what you should do, and it’s just scary to do it. But I’d hate to let the fact that I’m scared to do it make me not do it. It ends up defining you.”

Josh Homme (1973) American musician

Reported in Eddy Lawrence, " Josh Homme: Interview http://www.timeout.com/london/music/features/4199/Josh_Homme-interview.html", Time Out London (February 5, 2008).

Marie Curie photo

“You must never be fearful of what you are doing when it is right.”

Marie Curie (1867–1934) French-Polish physicist and chemist

Aldo Leopold photo

“Once you learn to read the land, I have no fear of what you will do to it, or with it. And I know many pleasant things it will do to you.”

Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) American writer and scientist

"Wherefore Wildlife Ecology?" [1947]; Published in The River of the Mother of God and Other Essays by Aldo Leopold, Susan L. Flader and J. Baird Callicott (eds.) 1991, p. 337.
1940s

Johnny Depp photo

“Just keep moving forward and don't give a sh** about what anybody thinks. Do what you have to do, for you.”

Johnny Depp (1963) American actor, film producer, and musician

Variant: Just keep moving forward and don't give a shit about what anybody thinks. Do what you have to do, for you.

Rosa Parks quote: “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”
Rosa Parks photo

“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”

Rosa Parks (1913–2005) African-American civil rights activist

Bertie Ahern photo

“I continued the arrangement, so whatever was on my mind, and the reason I probably can't give you a better reflection of what I was doing on the 19th of January is because I didn't do it. I am sure there are some mornings you get up and you think I might do this or I might do that and then you don't do them so, its hard to remember.”

Bertie Ahern (1951) Irish politician, 10th Taoiseach of Ireland

At the Mahon Tribunal on 20 September 2007. Planning Tribunal Transcript http://www.planningtribunal.ie/images/SITECONTENT_738.pdf planningtribunal.ie. 2007-09-20.

Edward G. Robinson photo

“You know, I've always figured the waiting is what I get paid for. The acting I do free.”

Edward G. Robinson (1893–1973) Romanian American actor

Source: On the set of Soylent Green (1973), in response to a fellow cast member's complaints; as quoted in In the Arena : An Autobiography (1995) by Charlton Heston, p. 477 https://archive.org/details/inarenaautobiogr0000hest_l8c1/page/476/mode/2up

Related topics