Take the whole range of imaginative literature, and we are all wholesale borrowers. In every matter that relates to invention, to use, or beauty or form, we are borrowers.

Summary

This quote suggests that all forms of imaginative literature rely on borrowing ideas from previous works. It argues that in matters related to invention, utility, beauty, and form, artists and writers draw inspiration and ideas from other sources. It implies that originality is achieved by creatively adapting and building upon existing ideas rather than creating something entirely new. The quote highlights the interconnectedness and continuum of creativity, emphasizing that artists are constantly influenced by and borrowing from the works that preceded them.

Topics