Austin-kleon Quote by Austin Kleon
““Nobody is born with a style or a voice. We don't come out of the womb knowing who we are. In the beginning, we learn by pretending to be our heroes. We learn by copying.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon, 2012
Creativity develops through imitation; we first emulate heroes before discovering our own voice.
In simple terms: We learn by copying before creating.
Key Takeaway
Embrace imitation, then innovate.
Themes
creativity
learning
identity
Mood
inspired
reflective
Type
advice
motivational
When to use this quote
- art school
- writing workshops
- career mentorship
- personal branding
Key Concepts
imitation
selfdiscovery
modeling
Questions to Reflect On
- Who have you modeled after and why?
- When did imitation become authentic?
A Different Perspective
Originality still requires personal transformation beyond copying.
![“In the meantime, if you're not into the world you live in, you can build your own world around you.[...]Surround yourself with books and objects that you love. Tape things up on the wall. Create your own world.” quote by Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/887/austin-kleon-1835_austin-kleon_in-the-meantime-if-you-re-not-into-the-w_2214884.jpg)
