--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Undine was fiercely independent and yet…" description: "\"“Undine was fiercely independent and yet passionately imitative. She wanted to surprise every one by her dash and originality, but she could not help m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/edith-wharton-512_creativity_undine-was-fiercely-independent-and-yet_1567313.jpg" --- # Undine was fiercely independent and yet passionately… ![“Undine was fiercely independent and yet passionately imitative. She wanted to surprise every one by her dash and originality, but she could not help modelling herself on the last person she met.” quote by Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/edith-wharton-512_creativity_undine-was-fiercely-independent-and-yet_1567313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/edith-wharton-512_creativity_undine-was-fiercely-independent-and-yet_1567313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61a/edith-wharton-512_creativity_undine-was-fiercely-independent-and-yet_1567313.jpg) > ““Undine was fiercely independent and yet passionately imitative. She wanted to surprise every one by her dash and originality, but she could not help modelling herself on the last person she met.”” [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the tension between fierce independence and the urge to emulate others, showing how originality can coexist with imitation. **In simple terms:** Independence meets imitation in creative expression. Key Takeaway Balance authenticity with learning from others. Themes identity creativity influence Mood reflective analytical Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - artistic work - career development - personal growth - leadership decisions Key Concepts individualism social mimicry Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay true while learning? - When does imitation become inspiration? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on others may dilute personal voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ## Related quotes > [“Undine was fiercely independent and yet passionately imitative. 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Undine (or the Little Mermaid) couldn't speak after she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d/i-am-not-undine-for-undine-or-the-little-mermaid-sold-her-glory-for/) H.D > [My mum Mary was always a bright, confident and fiercely independent lady.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-whately/my-mum-mary-was-always-a-bright-confident-and-fiercely-independent/) [Kevin Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-whately/) > [I was fiercely independent and ambitious from a very young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-frost/i-was-fiercely-independent-and-ambitious-from-a-very-young-age/) [Sadie Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-frost/) > [Our society's framework for black women reads as such: strong, indignant and fiercely independent with endless resilience; a myriad of expectations entirely at odds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerrika-hinton/our-society-s-framework-for-black-women-reads-as-such-strong/) [Jerrika Hinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerrika-hinton/) > [My British publisher has this independent press. It's pretty small; they actually won last year. And she's got this great energy, and she's fiercely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-beatty/my-british-publisher-has-this-independent-press-it-s-pretty-small/) [Paul Beatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-beatty/) > [I am fiercely independent and I probably wouldn't be if it wasn't for the way in which I was brought up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracey-emin/i-am-fiercely-independent-and-i-probably-wouldn-t-be-if-it-wasn-t-for/) [Tracey Emin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracey-emin/) > [I'm fiercely independent, but I'm also terrified of being alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-levine/i-m-fiercely-independent-but-i-m-also-terrified-of-being-alone/) [Adam Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-levine/) > [The greatest thing about being a mother so young, I had my first child at 24, is that I cook, I clean, I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-l-williams/the-greatest-thing-about-being-a-mother-so-young-i-had-my-first-child/) [Vanessa L. 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Caudill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-m-caudill/) > [I am a fiercely independent person, and I am no one's pawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-blasey-ford/i-am-a-fiercely-independent-person-and-i-am-no-one-s-pawn/) [Christine Blasey Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-blasey-ford/) ## More by Edith Wharton > [“Suddenly the air was full of that deep clangor of bells which periodically covers Rome with a roof of silver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/suddenly-the-air-was-full-of-that-deep-clangor-of-bells-which/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“Untrained human nature was not frank and innocent; it was full of the twists and defences of an instinctive guile. And he felt himself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/untrained-human-nature-was-not-frank-and-innocent-it-was-full-of-the/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“High Pasture Come up--come up: in the dim vale below The autumn mist muffles the fading trees, But on this keen hill-pasture, though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/high-pasture-come-up-come-up-in-the-dim-vale-below-the-autumn-mist/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“Two ways to be a light for all, is to be a flaming candle or the mirror that reflects it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/two-ways-to-be-a-light-for-all-is-to-be-a-flaming-candle-or-the/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“... no treasure-house of Atreus was ever as rich as a well-stored memory.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/no-treasure-house-of-atreus-was-ever-as-rich-as-a-well-stored-memory/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“...the endless labour of rolling human stupidity up the steep hill of understanding.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/the-endless-labour-of-rolling-human-stupidity-up-the-steep-hill-of/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“he saw his marriage becoming what most of the other marriages about him were: a dull association of material and social interests held together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/he-saw-his-marriage-becoming-what-most-of-the-other-marriages-about/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [The real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/the-real-loneliness-is-living-among-all-these-kind-people-who-only/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [With a shiver of foreboding he saw his marriage becoming what most of the other marriages about him were: a dull association of material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/with-a-shiver-of-foreboding-he-saw-his-marriage-becoming-what-most-of/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [Life is the saddest thing there is, next to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/life-is-the-saddest-thing-there-is-next-to-death/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [A classic is classic not because it conforms to certain structural rules, or fits certain definitions (of which its author had quite probably never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/a-classic-is-classic-not-because-it-conforms-to-certain-structural/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [There is too much sour grapes for my taste in the present American attitude. 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Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“The Soviet “creative intelligentsia” - that is, people accustomed to thinking one thing, saying another and doing a third - is as a whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-amalrik/the-soviet-creative-intelligentsia-that-is-people-accustomed-to/) Andrei Amalrik > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/a-rock-pile-ceases-to-be-a-rock-pile-the-moment-a-single-man/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [You don't get lucky. 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What a pleasure it is to follow his investigation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-foer/jonah-lehrer-is-one-of-the-most-talented-explainers-of-science-that/) [Joshua Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-foer/) > [If you've got creativity, imagination, and intelligence, and you want to be hypnotised, then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/if-you-ve-got-creativity-imagination-and-intelligence-and-you-want-to/) [Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/) > [“I believe in magic. As a writer, I create them on blank paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonnia-kemmer/i-believe-in-magic-as-a-writer-i-create-them-on-blank-paper/) [Sonnia Kemmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonnia-kemmer/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) Christoph Niemann > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. 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