All profoundly original work looks ugly at first.

All profoundly original work looks ugly at first.

All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think read more

All truly wise thoughts have been thought already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience.

Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable.

Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable.

Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known.

Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I've ever known.

The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first read more

The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first to repeat it was possibly an idiot.

What a good thing Adam had--when he said a good thing, he knew nobody had said it before.

What a good thing Adam had--when he said a good thing, he knew nobody had said it before.

Insist upon yourself. Be original.

Insist upon yourself. Be original.

What moves those of genius, what inspires their work is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that read more

What moves those of genius, what inspires their work is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.

Originality is the one thing which unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of.

Originality is the one thing which unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of.