Nothing is said which has not been said before.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
Ideas improve. The meaning of words participates in the improvement. Plagiarism is necessary. Progress implies it. It embraces an author’s phrase, makes use of his expressions, erases a false idea, and replaces it with the right idea.
—Guy Debord (1931–94) French Philosopher
Borrowed thoughts, like borrowed money, only show the poverty of the borrower.
—Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington (1789–1849) Irish Novelist, Writer
I don’t think anybody steals anything; all of us borrow.
—B. B. King (1925–2015) American Blues Singer, Guitarist