What moves those of genius, what inspires their work is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that read more

What moves those of genius, what inspires their work is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.

I invent nothing. I rediscover.

I invent nothing. I rediscover.

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

What a good thing Adam had--when he said a good thing, he knew nobody had said it before.

What a good thing Adam had--when he said a good thing, he knew nobody had said it before.

Originality is nothing but judicious imitation.

Originality is nothing but judicious imitation.

When people are fee to do as they please, they usually imitate each other. Originality is deliberate and forced, and read more

When people are fee to do as they please, they usually imitate each other. Originality is deliberate and forced, and partakes of the nature of a protest.

The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.

The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.

No bird has ever uttered note That was not in some first bird's throat; Since Eden's freshness and man's read more

No bird has ever uttered note That was not in some first bird's throat; Since Eden's freshness and man's fall No rose has been original.

The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first read more

The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first to repeat it was possibly an idiot.