Accused Quote by Joseph Epstein
“I have myself always been terrified of plagiarism - of being accused of it, that is. Every writer is a thief, though some of us are more clever than others at disguising our robberies. The reason writers are such slow readers is that we are ceaselessly searching for things we can steal and then pass off as our own: a natty bit of syntax, a seamless transition, a metaphor that jumps to its target like an arrow shot from an aluminum crossbow.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Thief’s Trade,” The American Scholar, 1998
Writers constantly borrow and transform existing ideas, blurring the line between theft and creation.
In simple terms: Writing involves reusing and reshaping others’ work.
Key Takeaway
Embrace influence while crediting sources.
Themes
creativity
ethics
authorship
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- fiction drafting
- content marketing
- journalism
Key Concepts
intertextuality
originality
plagiarism
Questions to Reflect On
- What boundaries define ethical borrowing?
- How do you credit sources without stifling creativity?
A Different Perspective
Balancing inspiration with originality can be challenging.
