--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you copy, it means you're working…" description: "\"If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/billie-holiday-11576_earth_if-you-copy-it-means-you-re-working-with_1115932.jpg" --- # If you copy, it means you're working without any real… ![“If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music.” quote by Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/billie-holiday-11576_earth_if-you-copy-it-means-you-re-working-with_1115932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/billie-holiday-11576_earth_if-you-copy-it-means-you-re-working-with_1115932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/af5/billie-holiday-11576_earth_if-you-copy-it-means-you-re-working-with_1115932.jpg) > “If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music.” [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authentic music requires personal feeling; copying lacks genuine emotion and uniqueness. **In simple terms:** Copying kills authenticity in music Key Takeaway Create from personal feeling, avoid imitation Themes authenticity creativity individuality Mood thoughtful inspirational Type artistic educational When to use this quote - commercial music production - educational copying exercises Key Concepts artistic expression originality music theory Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance technical skill with personal expression? - When is imitation useful in learning? A Different Perspective Technical skill without feeling may still be valuable in some contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“You can't copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. No two people on earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/you-can-t-copy-anybody-and-end-with-anything-if-you-copy-it-means-you-2/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [You can't copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/you-can-t-copy-anybody-and-end-with-anything-if-you-copy-it-means-you/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [“Everyones got to be different. You can't copy anybody and end up with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/everyones-got-to-be-different-you-can-t-copy-anybody-and-end-up-with/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [There's nothing better than that feeling of new chemistry when you're so into someone, and you could care less about what anyone else thinks...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-milian/there-s-nothing-better-than-that-feeling-of-new-chemistry-when-you-re/) [Christina Milian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-milian/) > [No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/no-two-people-on-earth-are-alike-and-it-s-got-to-be-that-way-in-music/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [There's no "magic secret"; writing is like everything else; ten percent inspiration or talent, and ninety percent hard work. Persistence; keeping at it till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-zimmer-bradley/there-s-no-magic-secret-writing-is-like-everything-else-ten-percent/) [Marion Zimmer Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-zimmer-bradley/) > [“But then Donny called her name from the kitchen, and she remembered rules number one and two. She said, “Do you see how I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/but-then-donny-called-her-name-from-the-kitchen-and-she-remembered/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [Courage means to keep working a relationship, to continue seeking solutions to difficult problems, and to stay focused during stressful periods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/courage-means-to-keep-working-a-relationship-to-continue-seeking/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [I'm not an ambitious person, there is no ambition in my life. I have a mission in my life. And my mission is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/i-m-not-an-ambitious-person-there-is-no-ambition-in-my-life-i-have-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Because I write a book a year, I always want to do one other project every year that's stimulating in a different way. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-mina/because-i-write-a-book-a-year-i-always-want-to-do-one-other-project/) [Denise Mina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-mina/) > [I'm choosy to a fault. You want to hold out for a project that means something. You're the one who's there working fifteen hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzy-caplan/i-m-choosy-to-a-fault-you-want-to-hold-out-for-a-project-that-means/) [Lizzy Caplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzy-caplan/) > [Making art now means working in the face of uncertainty; it means living with doubt and contradiction, doing something no one much cares whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/making-art-now-means-working-in-the-face-of-uncertainty-it-means/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Success is not a destination, but the road that you're on. Being successful means that you're working hard and walking your walk every day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-wayans/success-is-not-a-destination-but-the-road-that-you-re-on-being/) [Marlon Wayans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-wayans/) > [It means working harder to do the research but I don't really mind - I don't think I have what it takes to chase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/it-means-working-harder-to-do-the-research-but-i-don-t-really-mind-i/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [I'm trying to have some longevity in this business. If that means not working for a while and just picking the right job, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-paul/i-m-trying-to-have-some-longevity-in-this-business-if-that-means-not/) [Aaron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-paul/) ## More by Billie Holiday > [Don't threaten me with love, baby. Let's just go walking in the rain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/don-t-threaten-me-with-love-baby-let-s-just-go-walking-in-the-rain/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [God bless the child that's got his own,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/god-bless-the-child-that-s-got-his-own/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession, let alone two years or ten years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-can-t-stand-to-sing-the-same-song-the-same-way-two-nights-in/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I never had a chance to play with dolls like other kids. I started working when I was six years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-never-had-a-chance-to-play-with-dolls-like-other-kids-i-started/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I try to improvise like Les Young, Louis Armstrong or someone else I admire. What comes out is what I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-try-to-improvise-like-les-young-louis-armstrong-or-someone-else-i/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I can only sing songs my way. I don't know any other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-can-only-sing-songs-my-way-i-don-t-know-any-other-way/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I can't stand to sing the same song the same way two nights in succession. If you can, then it ain't music, it's close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-can-t-stand-to-sing-the-same-song-the-same-way-two-nights-in-2/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I never sing a song the same way twice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-never-sing-a-song-the-same-way-twice/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [Money, you have lots of friends hanging round the door. When it's gone and the spending ends They don't come no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/money-you-have-lots-of-friends-hanging-round-the-door-when-it-s-gone/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [Love is like a faucet, it turns off and on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/love-is-like-a-faucet-it-turns-off-and-on/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [I don't think I missed a single picture Billie Dove ever made. I was crazy for her. I tried to do my hair like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/i-don-t-think-i-missed-a-single-picture-billie-dove-ever-made-i-was/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [God has blessed you when he lets you believe in somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/god-has-blessed-you-when-he-lets-you-believe-in-somebody/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [A kiss that is never tasted, is forever and ever wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/a-kiss-that-is-never-tasted-is-forever-and-ever-wasted/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [In this country kings or dukes don't amount to nothing. The greatest man around then was Franklin D. Roosevelt, and he was the President;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/in-this-country-kings-or-dukes-don-t-amount-to-nothing-the-greatest/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) > [Don't be in such a hurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-holiday/don-t-be-in-such-a-hurry/) [Billie Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) [Explore all 59 Billie Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-holiday/) ## More Copy quotes > [Would ya like a copy of my butt? -Butt-Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beavis-and-butthead/would-ya-like-a-copy-of-my-butt-butt-head/) [Beavis And Butthead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beavis-and-butthead/) > [“All religions worthy of the name are now making great efforts to purify their doctrines and return to their original standpoint, — all except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/all-religions-worthy-of-the-name-are-now-making-great-efforts-to/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [I've reread 'The Secret Garden' every year as an adult. I have a battered copy on my bookshelf - it's really quite a mess!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-potter/i-ve-reread-the-secret-garden-every-year-as-an-adult-i-have-a/) [Ellen Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-potter/) > [We call ourselves creators and we just copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/we-call-ourselves-creators-and-we-just-copy/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [“Everytime you make a copy of the copy, you lose clarity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-e-nelson/everytime-you-make-a-copy-of-the-copy-you-lose-clarity/) [Alan E. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-e-nelson/) > [William Regal is an obvious influence, as is Fit Finlay - you can see that in my style of wrestling - but I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dunne/william-regal-is-an-obvious-influence-as-is-fit-finlay-you-can-see/) [Pete Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dunne/) > [A presentation copy...is a copy of a book whoch does not sell, sent you by the author, with his foolish autograph at the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-is-a-copy-of-a-book-whoch-does-not-sell-sent-you/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [Obviously, Fred Astaire was a legend. I've tried to copy some of his movements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-moir/obviously-fred-astaire-was-a-legend-i-ve-tried-to-copy-some-of-his/) [Scott Moir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-moir/) > [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [Why would anybody hire a someone who is copying someone else when he can get the original one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kk/why-would-anybody-hire-a-someone-who-is-copying-someone-else-when-he/) KK > [I used to copy looks from fashion ads in my mother's 'Cosmopolitan' magazines and steal her eye shadows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffree-star/i-used-to-copy-looks-from-fashion-ads-in-my-mother-s-cosmopolitan/) [Jeffree Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffree-star/) > [I like to read non-fiction on my e-reader, but as for fiction, I usually like to have a copy to keep at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/i-like-to-read-non-fiction-on-my-e-reader-but-as-for-fiction-i/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [I've always avoided publicity. I've never been good copy at any stage of my life. I don't strive for it, because I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/i-ve-always-avoided-publicity-i-ve-never-been-good-copy-at-any-stage/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/) Mak\_786 > [Long time ago, people would make the Bible, right? The guy said it, somebody wrote it down. And then if you wanted another copy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/long-time-ago-people-would-make-the-bible-right-the-guy-said-it/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) Browse all 594 Copy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. 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