--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For years now, we've been hearing about…" description: "\"For years now, we've been hearing about how China is the great copycat nation, the manufacturer of designs drawn up in other countries, and then an imi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/adam-lashinsky-3927_china_for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-h_2430531.jpg" --- # For years now, we've been hearing about how China is the… ![“For years now, we've been hearing about how China is the great copycat nation, the manufacturer of designs drawn up in other countries, and then an imitator for its own products. That's been true, as the developing country followed a path that Japan and then Korea plowed before it.” quote by Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/adam-lashinsky-3927_china_for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-h_2430531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/adam-lashinsky-3927_china_for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-h_2430531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/adam-lashinsky-3927_china_for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-h_2430531.jpg) > “For years now, we've been hearing about how China is the great copycat nation, the manufacturer of designs drawn up in other countries, and then an imitator for its own products. That's been true, as the developing country followed a path that Japan and then Korea plowed before it.” [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote notes that China historically copied foreign designs, following a developmental path similar to Japan and Korea. **In simple terms:** China has often imitated foreign designs. Key Takeaway Recognize patterns of industrial development. Themes economics technology global trade Mood analytical neutral Type informative critical When to use this quote - manufacturing sectors - tech startups - policy analysis Key Concepts innovation diffusion developmental economics strategic imitation Questions to Reflect On - How has China shifted from copying to creating? - What drives imitation in emerging economies? A Different Perspective It may overlook China's recent original innovations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Copycat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copycat/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) ## Related quotes > [I think the rise of China is one of the great events of all economic and human history, and I think this will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-keating/i-think-the-rise-of-china-is-one-of-the-great-events-of-all-economic/) [Paul Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-keating/) > [China is a great country with a great culture, populated by fascinating, industrious and talented people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/china-is-a-great-country-with-a-great-culture-populated-by/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [So, China is a great nation. And with that comes great responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/so-china-is-a-great-nation-and-with-that-comes-great-responsibility/) [Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/) > [China is a great manufacturing center, but it's actually mostly an assembly plant. So it assembles parts and components, high technology that comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/china-is-a-great-manufacturing-center-but-it-s-actually-mostly-an/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I'd quite like to run the Great Wall of China. I've never been to China and there's something about the Great Wall of China…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/i-d-quite-like-to-run-the-great-wall-of-china-i-ve-never-been-to/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [China is a great nation that offers the world a great culture, so many good things. I love the Chinese people and I hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/china-is-a-great-nation-that-offers-the-world-a-great-culture-so-many/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [If you were created an original, why would you want to be a copycat?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/if-you-were-created-an-original-why-would-you-want-to-be-a-copycat/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [The copycat effects of media violence, similar to those previously attributed to westerns, radio serials and comic books, are easy to exaggerate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-mackay/the-copycat-effects-of-media-violence-similar-to-those-previously/) [Hugh Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-mackay/) > [I'm not really against a lot of things unless they are just pure exploitation and then they create their own copycat culture that comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leguizamo/i-m-not-really-against-a-lot-of-things-unless-they-are-just-pure/) [John Leguizamo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leguizamo/) > [“Not even a lane could be changed without an exact copycat movement by my Secret Service.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pierce-bush/not-even-a-lane-could-be-changed-without-an-exact-copycat-movement-by/) Barbara Pierce Bush > [It's hard work to find your own voice and not to copycat anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnaud-desplechin/it-s-hard-work-to-find-your-own-voice-and-not-to-copycat-anything/) [Arnaud Desplechin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnaud-desplechin/) > [“Be yourself because an original is worth more than just a copy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/be-yourself-because-an-original-is-worth-more-than-just-a-copy/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [Everyone goes to the same exhibitions and the same parties, stays in the same handful of hotels, eats at the same no-star restaurants, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/everyone-goes-to-the-same-exhibitions-and-the-same-parties-stays-in/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [“When you are gunning to be like other people, you are foolishly repeating their mistakes, and the worst of it all is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-are-gunning-to-be-like-other-people-you-are-foolishly/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Because when I'm a copycat I'm never good! But when I'm Eric Thomas, I'm great! I'm great at what I do!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/because-when-i-m-a-copycat-i-m-never-good-but-when-i-m-eric-thomas-i/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) ## More by Adam Lashinsky > [“The reason you have committees is that you have divided responsibilities,” Jobs said. “We don’t. At Apple you can figure out exactly who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-reason-you-have-committees-is-that-you-have-divided/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [Groceries, TV shows, and shoes are a few categories Amazon has been willing to hang onto for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/groceries-tv-shows-and-shoes-are-a-few-categories-amazon-has-been/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [Amazon has suffered quarters-long profit droughts. Alphabet has given its investors agita over profligate spending on non-core products. Microsoft's growth - if not its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/amazon-has-suffered-quarters-long-profit-droughts-alphabet-has-given/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [Chip maker Nvidia is the new old thing, an overnight success story years in the making that is having its moment and then some.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/chip-maker-nvidia-is-the-new-old-thing-an-overnight-success-story/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [“George Blankenship, a top executive of Apple’s retail initiative when it began, explained the very real link between storytelling and driving demand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/george-blankenship-a-top-executive-of-apple-s-retail-initiative-when/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [Apple is a military-like command-and-control organization where people lower down in the organization manage up. They are constantly preparing their boss who may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/apple-is-a-military-like-command-and-control-organization-where/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [“The trick with selling breakthrough products is to explain them clearly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-trick-with-selling-breakthrough-products-is-to-explain-them/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [Roku collects money two ways: by selling hardware, which it calls 'players'; and by selling advertising and taking a cut of revenues from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/roku-collects-money-two-ways-by-selling-hardware-which-it-calls/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [As the finish line for 2017 begins to come into focus, I'm beginning to wonder what an Uber turnaround would look like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/as-the-finish-line-for-2017-begins-to-come-into-focus-i-m-beginning/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [“Ive’s dreamy insistence on a stainless-steel bezel for iPhones and industrial-grade glass for iPads, for instance, paid off in a way that managers worried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/ive-s-dreamy-insistence-on-a-stainless-steel-bezel-for-iphones-and/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [“I always considered part of my job was to keep the quality level of people in the organizations I work with very high. That’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/i-always-considered-part-of-my-job-was-to-keep-the-quality-level-of/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [Chinese companies, in their well-capitalized, rapidly growing, and surprisingly lightly regulated markets, have become global innovation leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/chinese-companies-in-their-well-capitalized-rapidly-growing-and/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [“PC makers put crapware on their computers—antivirus software, subscription offers, and so on—precisely because the revenue is lucrative. Apple forgoes such opportunities time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/pc-makers-put-crapware-on-their-computers-antivirus-software/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [Innovation has its limits, of course, and Salesforce has proved adept at supplementing its growth with acquisitions, a tool long available to older rivals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/innovation-has-its-limits-of-course-and-salesforce-has-proved-adept/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [“Blankenship described Tesla’s version, an obvious homage to Apple marketing, regarding how to sell its $150,000-plus Roadster. “Zero to sixty in 3.7 seconds,” he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/blankenship-described-tesla-s-version-an-obvious-homage-to-apple/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) [Explore all 119 Adam Lashinsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) ## More China quotes > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Language is so specific to art, all the way to the past in China. Previously, people were not allowed to include various regional dialects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-zhangke/language-is-so-specific-to-art-all-the-way-to-the-past-in-china/) [Jia Zhangke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-zhangke/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [India may be overtaking China as the world's most polluted country. Even now, which country is worse depends on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/india-may-be-overtaking-china-as-the-world-s-most-polluted-country/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The remarkable thing about the Chinese is that they've operated differently than the Russians, the Iranians, and the North Koreans. By and large, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-remarkable-thing-about-the-chinese-is-that-they-ve-operated/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) [Browse all 3,827 China quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For years now, we've been hearing about how China is the great copycat nation, the manufacturer of designs drawn up in other countries, and then an imitator for its own products. That's been true, as the developing country followed a path that Japan and then Korea plowed before it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Lashinsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-how-china-is-the-great-copycat/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "China" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-how-china-is-the-great-copycat/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/adam-lashinsky-3927_china_for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-h_2430531.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/adam-lashinsky-3927_china_for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-h_2430531.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b9/adam-lashinsky-3927_china_for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-h_2430531.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“For years now, we've been hearing about how China is the great copycat nation, the manufacturer of designs…” — Adam Lashinsky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Lashinsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "For years now, we've been hearing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-how-china-is-the-great-copycat/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/for-years-now-we-ve-been-hearing-about-how-china-is-the-great-copycat/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```