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My books need no one to accuse or judge you: the page which is
yours stands up against you read more
My books need no one to accuse or judge you: the page which is
yours stands up against you and says, "You are a thief."
Who, to patch up his fame--or fill his purse--
Still pilfers wretched plans, and makes them worse;
read more
Who, to patch up his fame--or fill his purse--
Still pilfers wretched plans, and makes them worse;
Like gypsies, lest the stolen brat be known,
Defacing first, then claiming for his own.
They had their lean books with the fat of others' works.
They had their lean books with the fat of others' works.
Next o'er his books his eyes began to roll,
In pleasing memory of all he stole;
How read more
Next o'er his books his eyes began to roll,
In pleasing memory of all he stole;
How here he sipp'd, how there he plunder'd snug,
And suck'd all o'er like an industrious bug.
Perish those who said our good things before we did.
[Lat., Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerent.]
Perish those who said our good things before we did.
[Lat., Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerent.]
When Shakespeare is charges with debts to his authors, Landor
replies, "Yet he was more original than his originals. read more
When Shakespeare is charges with debts to his authors, Landor
replies, "Yet he was more original than his originals. He
breathed upon dead bodies and brought them into life."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson,
He liked those literary cooks
Who skim the cream of others' books;
And ruin half an author's read more
He liked those literary cooks
Who skim the cream of others' books;
And ruin half an author's graces
By plucking bon-mots from their places.
Their writings are thoughts stolen from us by anticipation.
[Fr., Leurs ecrits sont des vois qu'ils nous ont faite read more
Their writings are thoughts stolen from us by anticipation.
[Fr., Leurs ecrits sont des vois qu'ils nous ont faite d'avance.]
Why, simpleton, do you mix your verses with mine? What have you
to do, foolish man, with writings that read more
Why, simpleton, do you mix your verses with mine? What have you
to do, foolish man, with writings that convict you of theft? Why
do you attempt to associate foxes with lions, and make owls pass
for eagles? Though you had one of Ladas's legs, you would not be
able, blockhead, to run with the other leg of wood.
