Quotes: Orhan Pamuk

"The formula for originality is very simple –– put together two things that were not together before." 

–– Orhan Pamuk (b. 1952), Turkish writer and academic

Quotes: William Ralph Inge

 "What is originality? Undetected plagiarism." 

–– William Ralph Inge (1860-1954), English author, Anglican priest, and professor of divinity 

Source: Austin Kleon. Steal Like an Artist. 2012.

via: Aboveground Art Supplies 2020 Knapsack Sketchbook, 2022, p. 13.

Quotes: Philip Glass

"I sometimes hear about work described in terms of 'originality' or 'breakthrough,' but my personal experience is quite different. For me, music has always been about lineage. The past is reinvented and becomes the future. But the lineage is everything." 

–– Philip Glass (b. 1937), American composer and musician 

Source: Austin Kleon October 5, 2018. 

via: Sketchbook 30, 2018, p. 67. 

Quotes: Diana Vreeland

"The energy of imagination, deliberation and invention – these are the ingredients of style and all who have it share one thing: originality." 

– Diana Vreeland (1903-1989), French-American magazine editor and fashion journalist 

via: Sketchbook 21, 2013, p. 88 

Quotes 365: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"People are always talking about originality; but what do they mean? As soon as we are born, the world begins to work upon us, and this goes on to the end. What can we call our own except energy, strength and will? If I could give an account of all that I owe to great predecessors and contemporaries, there would be but a small balance in my favour."

–– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), German author, scientist, and statesman 

via Sketchbook 11, 2010, p. 11

Quotes 190: Robert Henri

"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, born Robert Henry Cozad (1865-1929), American painter and teacher

via Commonplace Book 2006, p. 111 

Quotes: Herman Melville

"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." 

–– Herman Melville (1819-1891) American novelist, best known for his novel Moby-Dick

Quotes: Jarmusch Golden Rule #5

"Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.”"

-- Jim Jarmusch,  American film director, screenwriter, actor, producer, editor, and composer