Artists On Stealing

Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal.

TS Eliot

My purpose in reading has ever secretly been not to come and judge but to come and steal.

John Updike

A good composer does not imitate; he steals.

Igor Stravinsky

Copy anyone but never copy yourself.

Pablo Picasso

I only steal from the best people.

Michael Caine

He who resolves never to ransack any mind but his own...will be obliged to imitate himself.

Sir Joshua Reynolds

A lotta cats copy the Mona Lisa, but people still line up to see the original.

Louis Armstrong

To refrain from imitation is the best revenge.

Marcus Aurelius