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My books need no one to accuse or judge you: the page which is
yours stands up against you read more
My books need no one to accuse or judge you: the page which is
yours stands up against you and says, "You are a thief."
For such kind of borrowing as this, if it be not bettered by the
borrower, among good authors is read more
For such kind of borrowing as this, if it be not bettered by the
borrower, among good authors is accounted plagiary.
Because they commonly make use of treasure found in books, as of
other treasure belonging to the dead and read more
Because they commonly make use of treasure found in books, as of
other treasure belonging to the dead and hidden underground; for
they dispose of both with great secrecy, defacing the shape and
image of the one as much as of the other.
To copy others is necessary, but to copy oneself is pathetic
To copy others is necessary, but to copy oneself is pathetic
We can say nothing but what hath been said . . . Our poets steal
from Homer . . read more
We can say nothing but what hath been said . . . Our poets steal
from Homer . . . . Our storydressers do as much; he that comes
last is commonly best.
Their writings are thoughts stolen from us by anticipation.
[Fr., Leurs ecrits sont des vois qu'ils nous ont faite read more
Their writings are thoughts stolen from us by anticipation.
[Fr., Leurs ecrits sont des vois qu'ils nous ont faite d'avance.]
They had their lean books with the fat of others' works.
They had their lean books with the fat of others' works.
Take the whole range of imaginative literature, and we are all
wholesale borrowers. In every matter that relates to read more
Take the whole range of imaginative literature, and we are all
wholesale borrowers. In every matter that relates to invention,
to use, or beauty or form, we are borrowers.
Perish those who said our good things before we did.
[Lat., Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerent.]
Perish those who said our good things before we did.
[Lat., Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerent.]