Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion.
[Fr., C'est un betail servile et sot a mon read more

Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion.
[Fr., C'est un betail servile et sot a mon avis
Que les imitateurs.]

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.]

Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.

Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.

I used to make original snowmen, but it was time consuming, hard work. So I said, heck, this is crazy! read more

I used to make original snowmen, but it was time consuming, hard work. So I said, heck, this is crazy! Now I crank out crude imitations of what's already popular! It takes no time or thought, and most people don't care about the difference, anyway! And what good is originality if you can't crank it out?

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

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

Imitation is at least 50 percent of the creative process

Imitation is at least 50 percent of the creative process

We are all easily taught to imitate what is base and depraved.
[Lat., Dociles imitandis
Turpibus ac read more

We are all easily taught to imitate what is base and depraved.
[Lat., Dociles imitandis
Turpibus ac pravis omnes sumus.]

No man ever yet became great by imitation.

No man ever yet became great by imitation.

Insist on yourself; never imitate.

Insist on yourself; never imitate.