Quotes About Originality

In my experience, committees can criticize, but they cannot create. 'Search the parks in all your cities You'll find no statues of committees.

only too frequently, our metaphors are not our own.

Metaphor makes us look at the world afresh, but it often does so by challenging our notions of the similarities that exist between things; how alike they are; and in what ways, in fact, they are irreconcilably unalike.

Besides, she likes Judy Garland and knows that if she sings a Judy Garland song, she's gonna sing it better than Judy ever could. That gives Aretha great satisfaction.

Leadership without perspective and point of view isn't leadership—and of course it must be your own perspective, your own point of view. You cannot borrow a point of view any more than you can borrow someone's eyes. It must be authentic, and if it is, it will be original, because you are an original.

When I look at a lot of older stuff that I've written, I think one sign of amateur humor writing is when you see people trying too hard.

Your response is your own. It is created by no one else but you.

Made-up word ALERT *Made-up word ALERT *Made-up word ALERT

Made-up word ALERT

Read and admire, but then go back to first principles and ask the question yourself, in your own way. Dare to disagree.

We each have a particular way of shaping ourselves in the world. To take on someone else's conversational style and to keep repeating other people's questions as if they were our own is to exhaust ourselves. It doesn't matter if it is the thoughts of Socrates or Susan Sontag. Read and admire, but then go back to first principles and ask the question yourself, in your own way. Dare to disagree.

Every man is blessed with his gifts from the Lord. One of mine happens to be a penis large enough that, if it had a penis of its own, my penis's penis would be larger than your penis." There was a moment of stunned silence, then I heard Jen start laughing so hard I thought she would choke. "Fuck all of you," John retorted. "You don't even exist. We're all just a figment of my cock's imagination.

I am all styles yet I am no style," said Bruce Lee.

But, kid, you can't color your world with Lonnie's crayons, if you know what I mean. Especially when he's only using one color.

Artist Matthew Barney has made a film about "shit". It is hardly original. Hollywood has made shit films for decades.

Fakers Are Feted, Innovators Are Isolated

Please, don't torture me with cliches. If you're going to try to intimidate me, have the courtesy to go away for a while, acquire a better education, improve your vocabulary, and come back with some fresh metaphors.

Ah, that touch of asperity! You are the only one of my acquaintance who is unafraid to spice your conversation with that particular pepper.

Be what you are.

It's amazing what you can do when you get creative.

I think every writer has a little freak in 'em.

Let your story breathe and be what it really is.

Be your own self. Love what YOU love.

Don't bore the universe.