--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can never be entirely original, as…" description: "\"“We can never be entirely original, as artists or as people. The genius and vision of those who came before us is too great for us to digress from enti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jessica-lave-25020_art_we-can-never-be-entirely-original-as-art_1108255.jpg" --- # We can never be entirely original, as artists or as… ![“We can never be entirely original, as artists or as people. The genius and vision of those who came before us is too great for us to digress from entirely. Though, as creatures that are compelled to test and surpass our own creative abilities, we must always strive for that originality in…” quote by Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jessica-lave-25020_art_we-can-never-be-entirely-original-as-art_1108255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jessica-lave-25020_art_we-can-never-be-entirely-original-as-art_1108255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/84e/jessica-lave-25020_art_we-can-never-be-entirely-original-as-art_1108255.jpg) > ““We can never be entirely original, as artists or as people. The genius and vision of those who came before us is too great for us to digress from entirely. Though, as creatures that are compelled to test and surpass our own creative abilities, we must always strive for that originality in everything we do in order to move the world forward.”” [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Originality is limited by past influences, but striving for personal innovation pushes progress forward. **In simple terms:** We build on past ideas while seeking our own uniqueness. Key Takeaway Blend inspiration with personal creativity. Themes creativity originality progress Mood reflective hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - art projects - research - product development Key Concepts innovation influence artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor past influences while staying unique? - What does originality mean to you? A Different Perspective Originality may be constrained by cultural expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artists/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originality/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [My idea of covers is that you should never cover a song and do it exactly like the artist because everyone's always going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-danzig/my-idea-of-covers-is-that-you-should-never-cover-a-song-and-do-it/) [Glenn Danzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-danzig/) > [As an aspiring artist, you should strive for originality of vision. Have something to say and a fresh way of saying it. No story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/as-an-aspiring-artist-you-should-strive-for-originality-of-vision/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Strive for originality in thought and action. Be first; Be different; And be daring. Only then will you make a significant difference in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/strive-for-originality-in-thought-and-action-be-first-be-different/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [In this world, one thing you should definitely strive for is originality. Just be who you are, and be your own person. That's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-gould/in-this-world-one-thing-you-should-definitely-strive-for-is/) [Nolan Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-gould/) > [Thanks to art, instead of seeing one world, our own, we see it multiplied and as many original artists as there are, so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/thanks-to-art-instead-of-seeing-one-world-our-own-we-see-it/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [And obviously, when I started out, I had a little bit more curiosity than some, and went seeking out the original artists, or in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/and-obviously-when-i-started-out-i-had-a-little-bit-more-curiosity/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [It's not about battling the original artists when I record these songs, it's about paying tribute to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etta-james/it-s-not-about-battling-the-original-artists-when-i-record-these/) [Etta James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etta-james/) > [“We do not let our ego plan a counter-attack when people underestimate our creative abilities, we speak through our work instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-erzfeld/we-do-not-let-our-ego-plan-a-counter-attack-when-people-underestimate/) [Chris Erzfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-erzfeld/) > [I enjoy the work I do in comedies. It's a valid test of your creative abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-stiller/i-enjoy-the-work-i-do-in-comedies-it-s-a-valid-test-of-your-creative/) [Ben Stiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-stiller/) > [Most people are too busy working on insignificant projects and pursuing life's frivolities to tap their creative abilities. It's a mistake to be one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/most-people-are-too-busy-working-on-insignificant-projects-and/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Research suggests that someone who is constantly drawing on their creative abilities can, on average, be productive for no more than six hours a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/research-suggests-that-someone-who-is-constantly-drawing-on-their/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“God’s Word also opens creative spheres, releasing creativity and creative abilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-sheets/god-s-word-also-opens-creative-spheres-releasing-creativity-and/) Tim Sheets > [Writing that flirts with incoherence can just as readily flounder as writing characterized by simplicity and composure. There is no reliable formula for originality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-scott/writing-that-flirts-with-incoherence-can-just-as-readily-flounder-as/) [Joanna Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-scott/) > [Our originality shows itself most strikingly not in what we wholly originate but in what we do with that which we borrow from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/our-originality-shows-itself-most-strikingly-not-in-what-we-wholly/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [“Desert are you, deluge are you, in a crowd of fakes, only truth is you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/desert-are-you-deluge-are-you-in-a-crowd-of-fakes-only-truth-is-you/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by Jessica Lave > [ “\[Cora:\] Did you hit your head on a library book?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/cora-did-you-hit-your-head-on-a-library-book/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Rylie:\] I can't marry someone just because I love them! How would that look?” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/rylie-i-can-t-marry-someone-just-because-i-love-them-how-would-that/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Veda:\] Twenty years of thinking that vampires and witches and all things supernatural were nothing but a bedtime story: a myth, thought up by… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/veda-twenty-years-of-thinking-that-vampires-and-witches-and-all/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [“When the chips are down, you are given the chance to find the strength you never knew you had and put it toward the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/when-the-chips-are-down-you-are-given-the-chance-to-find-the-strength/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [“What are you talking about?’ Cora said. Veda had a sudden image of her standing over a small child with her hands on her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/what-are-you-talking-about-cora-said-veda-had-a-sudden-image-of-her/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Hannah:\] Here is to Rylie Cates: May your pens never run out of ink, your computer never run out of power, and your brain… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/hannah-here-is-to-rylie-cates-may-your-pens-never-run-out-of-ink-your/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Anders:\] You will be making enough money that you could move out of that hole you call an apartment. \[Christina:\] Don’t be ridiculous. I’m… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/anders-you-will-be-making-enough-money-that-you-could-move-out-of/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Cora:\]‘Michael—that guy from the restaurant the other night—he works over there. He runs the prehistoric department.’ ‘I’m surprised,’ Veda said. ‘At what?’ ‘That you’re… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/cora-michael-that-guy-from-the-restaurant-the-other-night-he-works/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Rylie:\] I was thinking about that short you directed--The Pier. I wondered if you had a video or a reel of it somewhere. \[Finn:\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/rylie-i-was-thinking-about-that-short-you-directed-the-pier-i/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Devon:\] Stop worrying. That's my job. You're the talent. You're supposed to go do ridiculous things and not think about the consequences until they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/devon-stop-worrying-that-s-my-job-you-re-the-talent-you-re-supposed/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Veda:\] 'The media presence and inability of people to keep anything to themselves anymore is working for \*us\*. He can’t cover his tracks as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/veda-the-media-presence-and-inability-of-people-to-keep-anything-to/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Sharon Howard:\] You know, I didn't expect a kid fresh out of college from Maine to be so cutthroat.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/sharon-howard-you-know-i-didn-t-expect-a-kid-fresh-out-of-college/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Veda:\] 'Sure. Let me put these \[books\] back and we can go.' Cora looked at the number of volumes on the table and sat… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/veda-sure-let-me-put-these-books-back-and-we-can-go-cora-looked-at/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [“Good or bad, words have an impact on each of us. As a writer, I can only hope that the effects my words have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/good-or-bad-words-have-an-impact-on-each-of-us-as-a-writer-i-can-only/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) > [ “\[Karen:\] You need to watch more TV. \[Rylie:\] My dear mother would roll over in her grave. \[Karen:\] Your mother lives in Palm Beach.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lave/karen-you-need-to-watch-more-tv-rylie-my-dear-mother-would-roll-over/) [Jessica Lave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) [Explore all 23 Jessica Lave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lave/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [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/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We can never be entirely original, as artists or as people. 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