--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: About the most originality that any…" description: "\"About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good judgment.\" — Josh Billings" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/josh-billings-777_achieve_about-the-most-originality-that-any-writ_411075.png" --- # About the most originality that any writer can hope to… ![“About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good judgment.” quote by Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/josh-billings-777_achieve_about-the-most-originality-that-any-writ_411075.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/josh-billings-777_achieve_about-the-most-originality-that-any-writ_411075.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4f/josh-billings-777_achieve_about-the-most-originality-that-any-writ_411075.png) > “About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good judgment.” [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Originality stems from borrowing ideas wisely, not copying blindly. **In simple terms:** Good ideas come from thoughtful borrowing. Key Takeaway Steal wisely, create uniquely. Themes creativity originality influence Mood reflective inspired Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - writing workshops - creative brainstorming - academic research - content creation Key Concepts intellectual property cultural remix Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance inspiration with originality? - What criteria define “good judgment” in borrowing? A Different Perspective Overreliance on others can dilute personal voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Good judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-judgment/) [Originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originality/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Most writers steal a good thing when they can, and when 'Tis safely got 'Tis worth the winning. The worst of 't is we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-procter/most-writers-steal-a-good-thing-when-they-can-and-when-tis-safely-got/) [Bryan Procter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-procter/) > [“Ruth's mouth dropped open, her delicate face contorting in outrage. 'Steal? How dare you! I don't steal!' 'That's good,' I went on, smirking at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/ruth-s-mouth-dropped-open-her-delicate-face-contorting-in-outrage/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [Never use your own money. Steal a good idea and say it's your own. Do anything to get publicity. Remember that everybody can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-breslin/never-use-your-own-money-steal-a-good-idea-and-say-it-s-your-own-do/) [Jimmy Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-breslin/) > [“Go ahead Steal! Steal a good thought. Dec 9, World Anti Corruption Day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vineet-raj-kapoor/go-ahead-steal-steal-a-good-thought-dec-9-world-anti-corruption-day/) [Vineet Raj Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vineet-raj-kapoor/) > [Never hesitate to steal a good idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-neuharth/never-hesitate-to-steal-a-good-idea/) [Al Neuharth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-neuharth/) > [ \[Salvation\] is a curious process of divine burglary. The first thing to be wrested from one by a God who said 'Thou shalt not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/salvation-is-a-curious-process-of-divine-burglary-the-first-thing-to/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [If you're a good composer, you steal good steals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/if-you-re-a-good-composer-you-steal-good-steals/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [“Steal? How dare you? I don't steal!" "That's good" I went on, smirking at her. "Because, sometimes I kill things in my sleep. Particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/steal-how-dare-you-i-don-t-steal-that-s-good-i-went-on-smirking-at/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/select-only-things-to-steal-from-that-speak-directly-to-your-soul/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-jarmusch/nothing-is-original-steal-from-anywhere-that-resonates-with-2/) [Jim Jarmusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-jarmusch/) > [Any penalty - I've told you a hundred times - can be eliminated by concentration or good judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-parcells/any-penalty-i-ve-told-you-a-hundred-times-can-be-eliminated-by/) [Bill Parcells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-parcells/) > [ An ill agreement is better then a good judgement. \[An ill agreement is better than a good judgment.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/an-ill-agreement-is-better-then-a-good-judgement-an-ill-agreement-is/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [As a gardener, I wonder if flowers really can't speak or just exercise unfailing good judgment in the matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/as-a-gardener-i-wonder-if-flowers-really-can-t-speak-or-just-exercise/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [“One learns good judgment through experience; one gains experience through bad judgment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-phennah/one-learns-good-judgment-through-experience-one-gains-experience/) Sharon Phennah > [Through my time in the military and my deployments, I have recognized the importance of having a Commander in Chief who will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/through-my-time-in-the-military-and-my-deployments-i-have-recognized/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) ## More by Josh Billings > [It ain't because lovers are so sensitive that they quarrel so often; it is because there is so much fun n the making up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/it-ain-t-because-lovers-are-so-sensitive-that-they-quarrel-so-often/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Man was created a little lower than the angels and has been getting a little lower ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/man-was-created-a-little-lower-than-the-angels-and-has-been-getting-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [There is only one good substitute for the endearments of a sister, and that is the endearments of some other fellow's sister.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/there-is-only-one-good-substitute-for-the-endearments-of-a-sister-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds a man down or polishes him up depends on the stuff he's made of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/life-is-a-grindstone-and-whether-it-grinds-a-man-down-or-polishes-him/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Its harly my dog A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/its-harly-my-dog-a-dog-is-the-only-thing-on-earth-that-loves-you-more/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Perseverance is king.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/perseverance-is-king/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Unless we put heart and soul into our labor we but brutify our actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/unless-we-put-heart-and-soul-into-our-labor-we-but-brutify-our-actions/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [A secret ceases to be a secret if it is once confided - it is like a dollar bill, once broken, it is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/a-secret-ceases-to-be-a-secret-if-it-is-once-confided-it-is-like-a/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If a man is right, he can't be too radical; if he is wrong, he can't be too conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-a-man-is-right-he-can-t-be-too-radical-if-he-is-wrong-he-can-t-be/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [As a general rule, if you want to get at the truth - hear both sides and believe neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/as-a-general-rule-if-you-want-to-get-at-the-truth-hear-both-sides-and/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Economy is a savings-bank, into which men drop pennies, and get dollars in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/economy-is-a-savings-bank-into-which-men-drop-pennies-and-get-dollars/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Self-made men are most always apt to be a little too proud of the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/self-made-men-are-most-always-apt-to-be-a-little-too-proud-of-the-job/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [Poverty is one of them kind of misfortunes that we all of us dread but none of us pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/poverty-is-one-of-them-kind-of-misfortunes-that-we-all-of-us-dread/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [If the world despises a hypocrite, what must they think of him in heaven?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/if-the-world-despises-a-hypocrite-what-must-they-think-of-him-in/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) > [The man who gets bit twice by the same dog is better adapted for that kind of business than any other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-billings/the-man-who-gets-bit-twice-by-the-same-dog-is-better-adapted-for-that/) [Josh Billings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) [Explore all 372 Josh Billings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-billings/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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When I read the screenplay, I knew that there would be no HD camera that could achieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deon-taylor/i-m-a-film-guy-i-love-it-when-i-read-the-screenplay-i-knew-that-there/) Deon Taylor > [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/) Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Governments follow their people. A great deal has to do with the vision of the leadership of governments. They have a vision, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-khurshid/governments-follow-their-people-a-great-deal-has-to-do-with-the/) [Salman Khurshid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-khurshid/) > [To achieve victory we must mass our forces at the hub of all power & movement. The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. 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