He who thinks for himself, and rarely imitates, is a free man.
—Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724–1803) German Poet
Originality exists in every individual because each of us differs from the others. We are all primary numbers divisible only by ourselves.
—Jean Guitton (1901–99) French Catholic Philosopher, Theologian
Originality is the art of concealing your source.
—Franklin P. Jones
If there is anything the nonconformist hates worse than a conformist, it’s another nonconformist who doesn’t conform to the prevailing standard of nonconformity.
—Burton Hillis (William E. Vaughan) (1915–77) American Columnist, Author
Men often applaud an imitation and hiss the real thing.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
I see nothing in it new and valuable. What is valuable is not new, and what is new is not valuable.
—Daniel Webster (1782–1852) American Statesman, Lawyer
All profoundly original art looks ugly at first.
—Clement Greenberg (1909–94) American Art Critic
Originality is simply a pair of fresh eyes.
—Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823–1911) American Social Reformer, Clergyman
Begin with another’s to end with your own.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Utter originality is, of course, out of the question.
—Ezra Pound (1885-1972) American Poet, Translator, Critic
Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.
—Charles Kuralt (1934–97) American Television News Journalist
A man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Your manuscript is both good and original, but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, The one I feed the most. On Other Peoples Expectations: The only man who behaved sensibly was my tailor; he took my measurement anew every time he saw me, while all the rest went on with their old measurements and expected them to fit me.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
A man of great common sense and good taste—meaning thereby a man without originality or moral courage.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Originality consists in trying to be like everybody else—and failing.
—Raymond Radiguet (1903–23) French Novelist
In exploring new and doubtful tracts of speculation, the mind strikes out true and original views; as a drop of water hesitates at first what direction it will take, but afterwards follows its own course.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
When will poets learn that a grass-blade of their own raising is worth a barrow-load of flowers from their neighbor’s garden?
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
All progress has resulted from people who took unpopular positions.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
We are obliged to regard many of our original minds as crazy at least until we have become as clever as they are.
—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–99) German Philosopher, Physicist
Many a man fails as an original thinker simply because his memory is too good.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good judgment.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
I invent nothing, I rediscover.
—Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) French Sculptor
Originality is merely an illusion
—M. C. Escher (1898–1972) Dutch Graphic Artist
All good things which exist are the fruits of originality.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
In all affairs it’s a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
The merit of originality is not novelty; it is sincerity. The believing man is the original man; whatsoever he believes, he believes it for himself, not for another.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to continually be part of unanimity.
—Christopher Morley (1890–1957) American Novelist, Essayist
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