--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's okay to be inspired by somebody…" description: "\"It's okay to be inspired by somebody else, but don't copy somebody else.\" — Hardwell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/hardwell-6335_copy_it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-els_957467.jpg" --- # It's okay to be inspired by somebody else, but don't copy… ![“It's okay to be inspired by somebody else, but don't copy somebody else.” quote by Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/hardwell-6335_copy_it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-els_957467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/hardwell-6335_copy_it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-els_957467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/hardwell-6335_copy_it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-els_957467.jpg) > “It's okay to be inspired by somebody else, but don't copy somebody else.” [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Inspiration is fine, but copying another artist's work undermines originality. **In simple terms:** Be inspired, not plagiarized. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal style while learning from others. Themes creativity originality inspiration Mood motivational reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - DJ sets - collaborations Key Concepts artistic integrity musical influence Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate influence from imitation? - What steps help you develop a unique voice? A Different Perspective Balancing influence with innovation can be challenging in genre‑tight scenes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) ## Related quotes > [At the end of the day, you can't do a copy of somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-can-t-do-a-copy-of-somebody/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [A movement happens when people are inspired by somebody, but they do it themselves. You don't wait for someone else. You do it yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/a-movement-happens-when-people-are-inspired-by-somebody-but-they-do/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I would just like to leave this big, floating rock having inspired somebody, having made a difference. It doesn't mean I have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-brendon/i-would-just-like-to-leave-this-big-floating-rock-having-inspired/) [Nicholas Brendon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-brendon/) > [If you want to copy somebody, you're going to be second at best, and always a step behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/if-you-want-to-copy-somebody-you-re-going-to-be-second-at-best-and/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [It's okay to be inspired by other people and it can be a useful learning tool to play other people's music, but let out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-chancellor/it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-other-people-and-it-can-be-a-useful/) [Justin Chancellor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-chancellor/) > [“I’m…getting there. I’m beginning to think that maybe it’s okay to be a blank canvas. Maybe it’s okay that my future is unknown. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-m-getting-there-i-m-beginning-to-think-that-maybe-it-s-okay-to-be-a/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [Traditional copyright has been that you can't make a full copy of somebody's work without their permission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/traditional-copyright-has-been-that-you-can-t-make-a-full-copy-of/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [God makes originals not carbon copies. It's okay to be inspired by someone, but be bold enough to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/god-makes-originals-not-carbon-copies-it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [The only tip I can give is just be yourself, you don't have to copy another song to be popular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/the-only-tip-i-can-give-is-just-be-yourself-you-don-t-have-to-copy/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [It's very easy to copy Swedish House Mafia, or Avicii, or Skrillex, or whatever. People listen too much to each other and are too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/it-s-very-easy-to-copy-swedish-house-mafia-or-avicii-or-skrillex-or/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [Somebody had given me a copy of 'Hunky Dory,' which had yet to be a hit, although it was starting to percolate. I'd seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-rock/somebody-had-given-me-a-copy-of-hunky-dory-which-had-yet-to-be-a-hit/) [Mick Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-rock/) > [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/) > [I always sleep on my own. I can't sleep with somebody else. Always separate bedrooms, bathrooms and closets. I'm very individual and I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/i-always-sleep-on-my-own-i-can-t-sleep-with-somebody-else-always/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [No matter what you go through, if it's the truth, 9 times out of 10, somebody else has been through the same thing or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sevyn-streeter/no-matter-what-you-go-through-if-it-s-the-truth-9-times-out-of-10/) [Sevyn Streeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sevyn-streeter/) > [When the dollar collapses, it's not doing it in a vacuum. If the dollar loses value, it's doing so relative to some other currency.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/when-the-dollar-collapses-it-s-not-doing-it-in-a-vacuum-if-the-dollar/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) ## More by Hardwell > [You can have the best production, the best stage in the world, but without a crowd, the festival is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/you-can-have-the-best-production-the-best-stage-in-the-world-but/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [I love the process of collaborating on music, mostly for the creativity that comes out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/i-love-the-process-of-collaborating-on-music-mostly-for-the/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [It's really boring if you make an album where every track sounds the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/it-s-really-boring-if-you-make-an-album-where-every-track-sounds-the/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [I think the impact my music has had on dance music fans is to bring out their inner love for dancing and having a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/i-think-the-impact-my-music-has-had-on-dance-music-fans-is-to-bring/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [I just think we've got a really good club life there in Holland with a lot of parties. And I think Dutch people just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/i-just-think-we-ve-got-a-really-good-club-life-there-in-holland-with/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [Back in 2008, nobody wanted to listen to or play my music. They called it trance. There was no market for it, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/back-in-2008-nobody-wanted-to-listen-to-or-play-my-music-they-called/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [I can't ever see myself stopping DJing or producing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/i-can-t-ever-see-myself-stopping-djing-or-producing/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [Connecting with my fans in India, whether at shows or via social media, has always shown me how special the passion in the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/connecting-with-my-fans-in-india-whether-at-shows-or-via-social-media/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [I think you've gotta stay focused if you wanna achieve something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/i-think-you-ve-gotta-stay-focused-if-you-wanna-achieve-something/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [A documentary on MTV about the Dutch scene was what sparked it all. I saw guys like Tiesto and Ferry Corsten talking about this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/a-documentary-on-mtv-about-the-dutch-scene-was-what-sparked-it-all-i/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [Everyone has to find his own path and don't worry about following trends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/everyone-has-to-find-his-own-path-and-don-t-worry-about-following/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [I try to fill the stage with my confidence in music. Obviously, this is to offer the fans with the best music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/i-try-to-fill-the-stage-with-my-confidence-in-music-obviously-this-is/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [When I was 14, I started playing in the bigger clubs in Holland and when I was 17, I started playing all of the festivals there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/when-i-was-14-i-started-playing-in-the-bigger-clubs-in-holland-and/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [I don't know if it's one particular thing that really made me popular, but I always say my music, it worked really well for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-one-particular-thing-that-really-made-me-popular/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) > [The electronic music world is such a tight-knit community. We're all hanging out at different festivals and such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/the-electronic-music-world-is-such-a-tight-knit-community-we-re-all/) [Hardwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) [Explore all 99 Hardwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/) ## 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": "It's okay to be inspired by somebody else, but don't copy somebody else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hardwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-else-but-don-t-copy-somebody-else/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Copy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-else-but-don-t-copy-somebody-else/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/hardwell-6335_copy_it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-els_957467.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/hardwell-6335_copy_it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-els_957467.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/hardwell-6335_copy_it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-els_957467.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's okay to be inspired by somebody else, but don't copy somebody else.” — Hardwell", "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": "Hardwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hardwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's okay to be inspired by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-else-but-don-t-copy-somebody-else/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hardwell/it-s-okay-to-be-inspired-by-somebody-else-but-don-t-copy-somebody-else/#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 } } ] } ```