Care Quote by Isaac D'Israeli
“It is generally supposed that where there is no QUOTATION, there will be found most originality; and as people like to lay out their money according to their notions, our writers usually furnish their pages rapidly with the productions of their own soil: they run up a quickset hedge, or plant a poplar, and get trees and hedges of this fashion much faster than the former landlords procured their timber. The greater part of our writers, in consequence, have become so original, that no one cares to imitate them; and those who never quote, in return are never quoted!”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Book of the French Revolution, 1797
Originality arises when writers avoid quoting others, but excessive self‑reliance can limit the richness of ideas and lead to echo chambers.
In simple terms: Avoiding quotes can limit ideas.
Key Takeaway
Balance originality with learning from others.
Themes
originality
influence
creativity
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- creative brainstorming
- journalism
- content creation
Key Concepts
intertextuality
intellectual humility
cultural exchange
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you decide when to quote versus create?
- When does originality become isolation?
A Different Perspective
Over‑emphasis on originality may ignore valuable prior work and hinder collaboration.
![“Translators who choose to work on canonized writers can usually lean on an extensive critical apparatus around either the author or the book in question, especially in the case of writers like [Honore] Balzac and [Emil] Zola.” quote by Andre Naffis-Sahely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dae/andre-naffis-sahely-20813_balzac_translators-who-choose-to-work-on-canoni_67754.jpg)
