“Good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal from them outright.”
What this quote means
Aaron Sorkin's quote, often misattributed to T.S. Eliot, distinguishes borrowing from creative theft. Borrowing is timid and respectful, while stealing is bold and transformative. Great artists don't just copy; they appropriate an idea to make it their own, to metamorphose it. It speaks to the importance of influence and originality: all art comes from a heritage, but genius lies in reinventing it.
How to apply it daily
Choose a work or idea that inspires you. Instead of copying it, ask yourself how you can transform it with your own style or perspective. Create something new.
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