He never chooses an opinion; he just wears whatever happens to be in style.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
Originality is a thing we constantly clamour for, and constantly quarrel with.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.
—J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) British Scholar, Author
He who thinks for himself, and rarely imitates, is a free man.
—Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724–1803) German Poet
Begin with another’s to end with your own.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail.
—Muriel Strode (1875–1964) American Author, Businesswoman
When there is an original sound in the world, it makes a hundred echoes.
—John Augustus Shedd (1858–1931) American Author
The true is inimitable, the false untransformable.
—Robert Bresson (1907–99) French Film Director
The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.
—Arthur Koestler (1905–83) British Writer, Journalist, Political Refugee
Don’t worry about your originality. You couldn’t get rid of it even if you wanted to. It will stick with you and show up for better or worse in spite of all you or anyone else can do.
—Robert Henri (1865–1929) American Painter, Teacher
It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.
—Charles Kuralt (1934–97) American Journalist, TV Personality
Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
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
Originality is not seen in single words or even sentences. Originality is the sum total of a man’s thinking or his writing.
—Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902–91) Polish-born American Children’s Books Writer, Novelist, Short Story Writer
A well cultivated mind is made up of all the minds of preceding ages; it is only the one single mind educated by all previous time.
—Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle (1657–1757) French Essayist, Polymath, Philosopher
The average man is a conformist, accepting miseries and disasters with the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain.
—Colin Wilson (b.1931) British Philosopher, Novelist
The greatness of art is not to find what is common but what is unique.
—Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902–91) Polish-born American Children’s Books Writer, Novelist, Short Story Writer
Create your own method. Don’t depend slavishly on mine. Make up something that will work for you! But keep breaking traditions, I beg you.
—Constantin Stanislavski (1863–1938) Russian Actor, Theater Personality
A great idea is usually original to more than one discoverer. Great ideas come when the world needs them. They surround the world’s ignorance and press for admission.
—Austin Phelps (1820–90) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Educator, Theologian
It’s easier to be original and foolish than original and wise.
—Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716) German Rationalist Philosopher, Mathematician
Originality is unexplored territory. You get there by carrying a canoe — you can’t take a taxi.
—Alan Alda (b.1936) American Actor, TV Personality, Screenwriter
No one can be profoundly original who does not avoid eccentricity.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
All progress has resulted from people who took unpopular positions.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
The original is unfaithful to the translation.
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet
The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself.
—Rita Mae Brown (b.1944) American Writer, Feminist
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
Originality is simply a pair of fresh eyes.
—Thomas Wentworth Higginson (1823–1911) American Social Reformer, Clergyman
You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
It is better to create than to be learned; creating is the true essence of life.
—Barthold G. Niebuhr (1776–1831) Danish-German Statesman, Banker, Historian
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