They love dancing well that dance among thorns.
They love dancing well that dance among thorns.
Meaning in plain English
People who continue an activity despite obvious discomfort must have a strong attachment to it. Dancing among thorns exaggerates the obstacles someone will accept for something they enjoy.
Example
A choir continues rehearsing in a cramped room while arranging a more suitable place to meet.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The dancers choose a place where movement is difficult and likely to be uncomfortable. Their willingness to continue makes their love of dancing seem especially strong. The image can recognise enthusiasm that survives an inconvenient setting or a demanding preparation. It also invites a question about whether the cost is reasonable. Dedication need not be proved by suffering, and enjoyment does not make every obstacle worth enduring. A useful reading notices what matters to a person while considering whether the circumstances can be improved. The proverb need not become an instruction to ignore pain or remain in a harmful situation.
When to use it
Use it to describe enthusiasm that persists through inconvenience.
Keep in mind
Suffering is not a necessary proof of commitment.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-04. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 382 · Dancing
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗
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