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.

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.

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.

The man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.

The man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.

You've gotta be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for?

You've gotta be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for?

Originality is the essence of true scholarship. Creativity is the soul of the true scholar.

Originality is the essence of true scholarship. Creativity is the soul of the true scholar.

Be yourself. The world worships the original.

Be yourself. The world worships the 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.

Original thought is like original sin: both happened before you were born to people you could not have possibly met.

Original thought is like original sin: both happened before you were born to people you could not have possibly met.