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Imitation Quotes


These are some of the best 'Imitation' quotations and sayings.


A good imitation is the most perfect originality.

Agesilaus, the Spartan king, was once invited to hear a mimic imitate the nightingale, but declined with the comment that he had heard the nightingale itself.

Almost all absurdity of conduct arises from the imitation of those who we cannot resemble.

Every kind of imitation speaks the person that imitates inferior to him whom he imitates, as the copy is to the original.

Every man is a borrower and a mimic; life is theatrical and literature a quotation.

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.

I hardly know so true a mark of a little mind as the servile imitation of others.

Imitation belittles.

Immature poets imitate: mature poets steal.

Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life's cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous half-possession. That which each can do best none but his Maker can teach him.

It is a poor wit who lives by borrowing the words, decisions, mien, inventions, and actions of others.

It is by imitation, far more than by precept, that we learn everything; and what we learn thus, we acquire not only more efficiently, but more pleasantly. This forms our manners, our opinions, our lives.

Man is an imitative creature, and whoever is foremost leads the herd.

Men are so constituted that every one undertakes what he sees another successful in, whether he has aptitude for it or not.

Most people go on living their everyday life: frightened, half indifferent, they behold the ghostly tragi-comedy that has been performed on the international stage before the eyes and ears of the world.

There is much difference between imitating a good man, and counterfeiting him. See quote detail

We are, in truth, more than a half of what we are by imitation.

We do not imitate, but are a model to others.

We imitate only what we believe and admire.

When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other. Originality is deliberate and forced, and partakes of the nature of a protest.