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About this quote

What does it mean?
Other dancers feel intimidated by Astaire's perceived perfection, viewing it as an unattainable standard.
In plain terms
Dancers dislike him because he seems too perfect to compete with.
What can you take from it?
Perfection can create distance and insecurity among peers.

Where it applies

  • peer dynamics
  • evaluating talent
  • dealing with perfection

Putting it to work

  • manage peer comparisons
  • recognize human flaws
  • support others

Questions to consider

  • How does perfection affect teams?
  • Is perfection inspiring or scary?

Another view

Perception of perfection may not reflect reality or intent.

More from Fred Astaire

  1. He is the most interesting, the most inventive, the most elegant dancer of our times... you see a little bit of Astaire in everybody's dancing--a pause here, a…

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  2. He's a genius...a classical dancer like I never saw in my life

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  3. He is terribly rare. He is like Bach, who in his time had a great concentration of ability, essence, knowledge, a spread of music. Astaire has that same concen…

    Permalink to quote #13

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