---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've stolen licks from just about every…"
description: "\"I've stolen licks from just about every person that ever picked up a guitar. We all borrow from one another; it's called legitimate stealing.\" — J. J. ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/j-j-cale-6694_another_i-ve-stolen-licks-from-just-about-every_1639953.png"
---

#  I've stolen licks from just about every person that ever…

![“I've stolen licks from just about every person that ever picked up a guitar. We all borrow from one another; it's called legitimate stealing.” quote by J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/j-j-cale-6694_another_i-ve-stolen-licks-from-just-about-every_1639953.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/j-j-cale-6694_another_i-ve-stolen-licks-from-just-about-every_1639953.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6c/j-j-cale-6694_another_i-ve-stolen-licks-from-just-about-every_1639953.png)

> “I've stolen licks from just about every person that ever picked up a guitar. We all borrow from one another; it's called legitimate stealing.”

[J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Artists learn by borrowing techniques, turning them into personal expression.

**In simple terms:** Learning from others fuels creativity.

Key Takeaway

Embrace influence, make it yours.

Themes

creativity learning originality

Mood

reflective playful

Type

musical inspirational

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- instrument practice
- collaborative jam sessions

Key Concepts

musical improvisation cultural exchange

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance inspiration with originality?

A Different Perspective

May become reliance on copying stifle personal voice?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Borrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-borrow-557916/) [Legitimate Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legitimate-stealing-557917/) [Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person/) [Stealing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stealing/) [Stolen Licks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stolen-licks-557915/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Ve Stolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-stolen-437395/)

## Related quotes

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> [“I not only stole your past. I’ve already stolen your future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepper-winters/i-not-only-stole-your-past-i-ve-already-stolen-your-future/)

[Pepper Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepper-winters/)

> [I've been inspired by dreams - I've even stolen scenes or images or characters from them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-ve-been-inspired-by-dreams-i-ve-even-stolen-scenes-or-images-or/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [“When Everything you've had is stolen from you, all you have left is REVENGE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/when-everything-you-ve-had-is-stolen-from-you-all-you-have-left-is/)

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> [I have a trophy case that contains all the action figures ever made of me. It also has items I've stolen from my movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-fillion/i-have-a-trophy-case-that-contains-all-the-action-figures-ever-made/)

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> [Confound these ancestors... They've stolen our best ideas!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/confound-these-ancestors-they-ve-stolen-our-best-ideas/)

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> [I've stolen a couple of hearts and they are in my private collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salma-hayek/i-ve-stolen-a-couple-of-hearts-and-they-are-in-my-private-collection/)

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## More by J. J. Cale

> [I just play my guitar and push my songs and I'd like to keep it quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-just-play-my-guitar-and-push-my-songs-and-i-d-like-to-keep-it-quiet/)

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> [Ask any guitar player - it's hard to feed yourself when you're picking for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/ask-any-guitar-player-it-s-hard-to-feed-yourself-when-you-re-picking/)

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> [I wanted to be able to play music, and then when I went out in my private life, my personal life, I didn't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-wanted-to-be-able-to-play-music-and-then-when-i-went-out-in-my/)

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> [I cut all my early records in Nashville, so I guess that makes me country. I call it country pop, but my love of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-cut-all-my-early-records-in-nashville-so-i-guess-that-makes-me/)

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> [I'm an electronic manipulator. Most people think J.J. Cale, he's organic. There ain't nothing organic about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/i-m-an-electronic-manipulator-most-people-think-j-j-cale-he-s-organic/)

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> [Clapton was just picking up ideas. He picked up some of mine like I picked up some from the people before me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/clapton-was-just-picking-up-ideas-he-picked-up-some-of-mine-like-i/)

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