The most original thing a writer can do is write like himself. It is also his most difficult task.
Emerson Ralph Waldo 1803-1882
It has come to be practically a sort of rule in literature that a man, having once shown himself capable of original writing, is entitled thenceforth to steal from the writings of others at discretion.
Greenberg Clement
All profoundly original art looks ugly at first.
Johnson Samuel 1709-1784
Your manuscript is both good and original; but the parts that are good are not original, and the parts that are original are not good.
Koestler Arthur 1905-1983
The more original a discovery, the more obvious it seems afterwards.
Pascal Blaise 1623-1662
Pensées
The more intelligence one has the more people one finds original. Commonplace people see no difference between men.
Woodcock George 1904-1979
Pioneers did not produce original works of art, because they were creating original human environments; they did not imagine utopias because they were shaping them.
Wordsworth William 1770-1850
Letter to Lady Beaumont
Every great and original writer, in proportion as he is great and original, must himself create the taste by which he is to be relished.
Plomer William 1903-1973
‘Mews Flat Mona'
On a sofa upholstered in panther skin
Mona did researches in original sin
Hoffer Eric 1902-1983
When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other. Originality is deliberate and forced, and partakes of the nature of a protest.
Inge William R. 1860-1954
What is originality? Undetected plagiarism.
Mill John Stuart 1806-1873
On Liberty
All good things which exist are the fruits of originality.
Stephens James 1882-1950
Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before, but in saying exactly what you think yourself.
Voltaire 1694-1778
Originality is nothing but judicious imitation.
Pascal Blaise 1623-1662
Pensées
How vain painting is, exciting admiration by its resemblance to things of which we do not admire the originals.
Tocqueville Alexis de 1805-1859
L'Ancien régime
History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.
Emerson Ralph Waldo 1803-1882
We are as much informed of a writer's genius by what he selects as by what he originates.