There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
T. S. EliotRead
Mediocre writers borrow; great writers steal.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that exceptional writers take inspiration from existing works rather than merely imitating them.
T. S. Eliot's quote highlights the distinction between mediocre and great writers in their approach to creativity. While mediocre writers might merely borrow ideas, great writers absorb influences, transform them, and create something new and original. This process of 'stealing' is about understanding the essence of existing works and reinventing them in one's unique voice, thereby advancing the art of writing.
Themes
WritingCreativityArtInspirationOriginality
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, when discussing originality, one might quote T. S. Eliot to inspire students to embrace their influences.
More from T. S. Eliot
All quotes βHalf of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm. But the harm does not interest them.
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I am an Anglo-Catholic in religion, a classicist in literature and a royalist in politics.
T. S. EliotRead
If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?
T. S. EliotRead
For I have known them all already, known them allβ Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.
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In the faint moonlight, the grass is singing
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We have a duty towards music, namely, to invent it.
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Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future.
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The primary requisite for writing well about food is a good appetite. Without this, it is impossible to accumulate, within the allotted span, enough experience of eating to have anything worth setting down.
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