Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.
—Salvador Dali (1904–89) Spanish Painter
He who imitates evil always goes beyond the example that is set; he who imitates what is good always falls short.
—Francesco Guicciardini (1483–1540) Italian Historian, Statesman
You may imitate, but never counterfeit.
—Honore de Balzac (1799–1850) French Novelist
‘Tis no shame to follow the better precedent.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
There is a difference between imitating a good man and counterfeiting him.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
—Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) Swiss Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Philosopher
Imitation is a necessity of human nature.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
Man is only true to himself when he surpasses the limitations inherent in his nature.
—Arthur Koestler (1905–83) British Writer, Journalist, Political Refugee
To do the opposite of something is also a form of imitation, namely an imitation of its opposite.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
There is only one kind of love, but there are a thousand imitations.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
He who never walks except where he sees other men’s tracks will make no discoveries.
—Unknown
I hardly know so true a mark of a little mind as the servile imitation of others.
—George Greville, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1746–1816) British Nobleman, Politician
Man’s natural character is to imitate; that of the sensitive man is to resemble as closely as possible the person whom he loves. It is only by imitating the vices of others that I have earned my misfortunes.
—Marquis de Sade (1740–1814) French Writer
The limitations of my endurance were expanded over and over. At times I felt that if I did not sit down I would collapse. Then something would happen to attract my attention…miraculously, the distraction always provided wings, carrying new strength, a second wind.
—Marlo Morgan (1937–98) American Novelist, Author
Simplicity of all things is the hardest to copy.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
Whatever is well said by another, is mine.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
No man was ever great by imitation.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Imitation is the sincerest form of television.
—Fred Allen (1894–1956) American Comedian, Radio Personality
Man is an imitative creature, and whoever is foremost leads the herd.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
It is a poor wit who lives by borrowing the words, decisions, mien, inventions, and actions of others.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Each of us is in fact what he is almost exclusively by virtue of his imitativeness.
—William James (1842–1910) American Philosopher, Psychologist, Physician
To equal a predecessor, one must have twice they worth.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Every kind of imitation speaks the person that imitates inferior to him whom he imitates, as the copy is to the original.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
It is well to respect the leader. Learn from him. Observe him. Study him. But don’t worship him. Believe you can surpass. Believe you can go beyond. Those who harbor the second-best attitude are invariably second-best doers.
—David J. Schwartz (1927–87) American Self-help Author
I have found some of the best reasons I ever had for remaining at the bottom simply by looking at the men at the top.
—Frank Moore Colby (1865–1925) American Encyclopedia Editor, Essayist
Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.
—Richard Bach (b.1936) American Writer, Aviator
Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those whom we cannot resemble.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
To be as good as our fathers we must be better, imitation is not discipleship.
—Wendell Phillips (1811–84) American Abolitionist, Lawyer, Orator
It is by imitation, far more than by precept, that we learn everything; and what we learn thus, we acquire not only more effectually, but more pleasantly.—This forms our manners, our opinions, our lives.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
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