Plagiarism

Originality is nothing but judicious imitation.

VOLTAIRE

I have myself always been terrified of plagiarism—of being accused of it, that is. Every writer is a thief, though some of us are more clever than others at disguising our robberies. The reason writers are such slow readers is that we are ceaselessly searching for things we can steal and then pass off as our own: a natty bit of syntax, a seamless transition, a metaphor that jumps to its target like an arrow shot from an aluminum crossbow.

JOSEPH EPSTEIN

All my best thoughts were stolen by the ancients.

RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Plagiarism of style is the most nefarious of all forms of plagiarism and the shabbiest.

RAYMOND CHANDLER

The difference between a bad artist and a good one is: the bad artist seems to copy a great deal; the good one really does.

WILLIAM BLAKE

Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats.

HOWARD AIKEN