No one can be profoundly original who does not avoid eccentricity.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
Great innovations should not be forced on slender majorities.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
When a work appears to be ahead of its time, it is only the time that is behind the work.
—Jean Cocteau (1889–1963) French Poet, Playwright, Film Director
An original writer is not one who imitates nobody, but one whom nobody can imitate.
—Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand (1768–1848) French Writer, Academician, Statesman
Most new things are not good, and die an early death; but those which push themselves forward and by slow degrees force themselves on the attention of mankind are the unconscious productions of human wisdom, and must have honest consideration, and must not be made the subject of unreasoning prejudice.
—Thomas Brackett Reed (1839–1902) American Politician, Lawyer
Innovation is the process of turning ideas into manufacturable and marketable form.
—Watts Humphrey (1927–2010) American Software Engineer
The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.
—Arthur Koestler (1905–83) British Writer, Journalist, Political Refugee
Innovation has nothing to do with how many R&D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R&D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents; it rarely happens that Saul becomes Paul. What does happen is that it opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the beginning.
—Max Planck (1858–1947) German Theoretical Physicist
Science advances funeral by funeral.
—Max Planck (1858–1947) German Theoretical Physicist
The most original authors are not so because they advance what is new, but because they put what they have to say as if it had never been said before.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
If you’re not failing every now and again, it’s a sign you’re not doing anything very innovative.
—Woody Allen (b.1935) American Film Actor, Director
I found you essay to be good and original. However, the part that was original was not good and the part that was good was not original.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some people move our souls to dance.
They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom.
Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon.
They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, nd we are never ever the same.
—Flavia Weedn
Originality is nothing but judicious imitation.—The most original writers borrowed one from another. The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch it from our neighbor’s kindle it at home, communicate it to others, and it becomes the property of all.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The ridiculous rage for innovation, which only increases the weight of the chains it cannot break, shall never fire my blood!
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
A spirit of innovation is generally the result of a selfish temper and confined views. People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
Never before in history has innovation offered promise of so much to so many in so short a time.
—Bill Gates (b.1955) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Author, Philanthropist
All cases are unique and very similar to others.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
Innovation is not the product of logical thought, although the result is tied to logical structure.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
You have all the reason in the world to achieve your grandest dreams. Imagination plus innovation equals realization.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably be unendurable.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
Fashion is something barbarous, for it produces innovation without reason and imitation without benefit.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011) American Entrepreneur, Businessperson
Innovation by definition will not be accepted at first. It takes repeated attempts, endless demonstrations, monotonous rehearsals before innovation can be accepted and internalized by an organization. This requires ‘courageous patience’.
—Warren Bennis (1925–2014) American Business Academic, Author
When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for everyone telling you you’re nuts.
—Larry Ellison (b.1944) American Entrepreneur
Everything has been said, and we have come too late, now that men have been living and thinking for seven thousand years and more.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
Begin with another’s to end with your own.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it.
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-Born American Author
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