Imitation, if noble and general, insures the best hope of originality.

Imitation, if noble and general, insures the best hope of originality.

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

Imitation is the most serious form of flattery

Imitation is the most serious form of flattery

Imitation is at least 50 percent of the creative process

Imitation is at least 50 percent of the creative process

Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.

Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.

Imitation is the sincerest flattery.

Imitation is the sincerest flattery.

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

He who studies to imitate the poet Pindar, O Julius, relies on
artificial wings fastened on with wax, and read more

He who studies to imitate the poet Pindar, O Julius, relies on
artificial wings fastened on with wax, and is sure to give his
name to a glassy sea.
[Lat., Pindarum quisquis studet aemulari,
Iule ceratis ope Daedalea
Nititur pennis, vitreo daturus
Nomina ponto.]

I would advise him who wishes to imitate well, to look closely
into life and manners, and thereby to read more

I would advise him who wishes to imitate well, to look closely
into life and manners, and thereby to learn to express them with
truth.
[Lat., Respicere exemplar vitae morumque jubebo
Doctum imitatorem, et veras hinc ducere voces.]