Imitation is the most serious form of flattery

Imitation is the most serious form of flattery

I used to make original snowmen, but it was time consuming, hard work. So I said, heck, this is crazy! read more

I used to make original snowmen, but it was time consuming, hard work. So I said, heck, this is crazy! Now I crank out crude imitations of what's already popular! It takes no time or thought, and most people don't care about the difference, anyway! And what good is originality if you can't crank it out?

Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion.
[Fr., C'est un betail servile et sot a mon read more

Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion.
[Fr., C'est un betail servile et sot a mon avis
Que les imitateurs.]

Imitation is suicide.

Imitation is suicide.

Insist on yourself; never imitate.

Insist on yourself; never imitate.

Imitation is the sincerest flattery

Imitation is the sincerest flattery

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

I would advise him who wishes to imitate well, to look closely
into life and manners, and thereby to read more

I would advise him who wishes to imitate well, to look closely
into life and manners, and thereby to learn to express them with
truth.
[Lat., Respicere exemplar vitae morumque jubebo
Doctum imitatorem, et veras hinc ducere voces.]

Imitation, if noble and general, insures the best hope of originality.

Imitation, if noble and general, insures the best hope of originality.