I write slowly [because] writing briefly takes far more time.
—Carl Friedrich Gauss
8
Anyone who can think clearly can write clearly. But neither is simple.
—William Feather, 1949
If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second-greatest favor you
can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first-greatest, of
course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.
—Dorothy Parker, 1959
***
Nothing is said nowadays that has not been said before.
—Terence, 161 BC
Nothing from nothing ever yet was born.
—Lucretius, first century BC
There’s nothing clever that hasn’t been thought of before — you've just got to try to think it
all over again.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1833
About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good
judgment.
—Josh Billings, 1871
Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it.
—Laurence J. Peter, 1977
9
Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.
—T. S. Eliot, 1920
10
Fine words! I wonder where you stole ‘em.
—Jonathan Swift, 1724
The substance, the bulk, the actual and valuable material of all human utterances – is
plagiarism.
—Mark Twain, 1903
When you steal from one author, it’s plagiarism. If you steal from many, it’s research.
—Wilson Mizner, 1953
***
8
As quoted, without a date, by George F. Simmons in 1922.
9
I have seen a similar aphorism attributed to Gene Fowler, but could not find a reliable confirmation of that authorship.
10
This maxim was later repeatedly reproduced—at least by Lionel Trilling about artists (in 1962)
and by Igor Stravinsky about composers (in 1967).
104
On Writing, Literature, Poetry, and Journalism
—Carl Friedrich Gauss
8
Anyone who can think clearly can write clearly. But neither is simple.
—William Feather, 1949
If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second-greatest favor you
can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first-greatest, of
course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy.
—Dorothy Parker, 1959
***
Nothing is said nowadays that has not been said before.
—Terence, 161 BC
Nothing from nothing ever yet was born.
—Lucretius, first century BC
There’s nothing clever that hasn’t been thought of before — you've just got to try to think it
all over again.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1833
About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good
judgment.
—Josh Billings, 1871
Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it.
—Laurence J. Peter, 1977
9
Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.
—T. S. Eliot, 1920
10
Fine words! I wonder where you stole ‘em.
—Jonathan Swift, 1724
The substance, the bulk, the actual and valuable material of all human utterances – is
plagiarism.
—Mark Twain, 1903
When you steal from one author, it’s plagiarism. If you steal from many, it’s research.
—Wilson Mizner, 1953
***
8
As quoted, without a date, by George F. Simmons in 1922.
9
I have seen a similar aphorism attributed to Gene Fowler, but could not find a reliable confirmation of that authorship.
10
This maxim was later repeatedly reproduced—at least by Lionel Trilling about artists (in 1962)
and by Igor Stravinsky about composers (in 1967).
104
On Writing, Literature, Poetry, and Journalism