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A good saying often runs the risk of being thrown away…

“A good saying often runs the risk of being thrown away when quoted as the speaker's own. [Fr., C'est souvent hasarder un bon mot et vouloir le perdre que de le donner pour sien.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere
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“A good saying often runs the risk of being thrown away when quoted as the speaker's own. [Fr., C'est souvent hasarder un bon mot et vouloir le perdre que de le donner pour sien.]”

Jean de la Bruyere

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Quoting a saying as one's own risks losing its original value, turning a shared insight into personal claim.

In simple terms: Claiming others' words as yours can diminish their impact.

Key Takeaway

Give credit to preserve the saying's power.

Themes

authorship integrity intellectual honesty communication

Mood

thoughtful educational

Type

ethical literary

When to use this quote

  • Academic writing
  • public speaking
  • social media posts
  • publishing

Key Concepts

Plagiarism cultural transmission literary tradition

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why is credit important in sharing ideas?
  • How does attribution affect credibility?
A Different Perspective

May not apply when ideas are common knowledge.

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