Dance to the beat of your own drum

Meaning

Follow your own path regardless of others.

Usage

Encourages individuality and self expression.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

A variation on 'march to a different drummer', which comes from Henry David Thoreau's Walden (1854).

Used in this form in the 20th century.