"That is what war is and dancing it is forward and back, when one is out walking one wants not to go back the way they came but in dancing and in war it is forward and back"

This quote by Gertrude Stein is a comparison between war and dancing. War and dancing both involve motion, however in various ways. War is a disorderly and damaging force, while dancing is an imaginative and happy activity. Stein is recommending that both war and dancing involve a back-and-forth movement, where one is continuously moving on and after that back once again. In war, this movement is often disorderly and unpredictable, while in dancing it is more structured and deliberate. Stein is recommending that in both war and dancing, one is continuously moving on and back, which this movement is essential for development. This quote is a tip that even in the middle of chaos and destruction, there is still a requirement for forward motion and progress.