---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Creation always involves building upon…"
description: "\"Creation always involves building upon something else. There is no art that doesn't reuse. And there will be less art if every reuse is taxed by the ap..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/lawrence-lessig-3201_art_creation-always-involves-building-upon-s_1826493.png"
---

#  Creation always involves building upon something else…

![“Creation always involves building upon something else. There is no art that doesn't reuse. And there will be less art if every reuse is taxed by the appropriator.” quote by Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/lawrence-lessig-3201_art_creation-always-involves-building-upon-s_1826493.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/lawrence-lessig-3201_art_creation-always-involves-building-upon-s_1826493.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/lawrence-lessig-3201_art_creation-always-involves-building-upon-s_1826493.png)

> “Creation always involves building upon something else. There is no art that doesn't reuse. And there will be less art if every reuse is taxed by the appropriator.”

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

## About This Quote

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

Art evolves by reusing and remixing existing ideas; imposing taxes on reuse stifles creativity.

**In simple terms:** Art builds on what came before; taxing reuse limits creativity.

Key Takeaway

Protect open reuse to foster innovation.

Themes

creativity intellectual property remix culture

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

- music production
- software development
- visual arts
- education
- publishing

Key Concepts

copyright law cultural evolution innovation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does restricting reuse affect cultural progress?
- What balance can protect creators while encouraging remix?

A Different Perspective

Taxation may be necessary for creators' compensation, creating tension with openness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Reuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-reuse-2237998/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Creation Involves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation-involves-342278/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Reuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reuse/) [Reuse Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reuse-art-2237997/) [Reuse Taxed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reuse-taxed-2237996/)

## Related quotes

> [“Why the delay? Why does God let evil and pain so flagrantly exist, even thrive, on this planet?...He holds back for our sakes. Re-creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/why-the-delay-why-does-god-let-evil-and-pain-so-flagrantly-exist-even/)

[Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/)

> [Let's reuse whatever we have now, stop making more of it, take what we gather, and make - whether it's car parts, computer cases,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-somerhalder/let-s-reuse-whatever-we-have-now-stop-making-more-of-it-take-what-we/)

[Ian Somerhalder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-somerhalder/)

> [Recycling is a good thing to do. It makes people feel good to do it. The thing I want to emphasize is the vast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-commoner/recycling-is-a-good-thing-to-do-it-makes-people-feel-good-to-do-it/)

[Barry Commoner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-commoner/)

> [“A photograph of a disposable diaper floating in the arctic miles away from human habitat fueled my daily determination to save at least one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-ng/a-photograph-of-a-disposable-diaper-floating-in-the-arctic-miles-away/)

[Gloria Ng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-ng/)

> [It makes a big difference to recycle. It makes a big difference to use recycled products. It makes a big difference to reuse things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-makes-a-big-difference-to-recycle-it-makes-a-big-difference-to-use-2/)

[Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/)

> [I've never been able to reuse characters, I've often wanted to. I've never been able to get people to cooperate. I can't get anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-a-romero/i-ve-never-been-able-to-reuse-characters-i-ve-often-wanted-to-i-ve/)

[George A. Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-a-romero/)

> [“A maid’s yard, house, wardrobe, fridge, etc. sometimes also serve as her master’s dustbin or dumpsite.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-maid-s-yard-house-wardrobe-fridge-etc-sometimes-also-serve-as-her/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [We need to send hundreds of millions of dollars down to our public high schools, vocational colleges, and community colleges to begin training people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/we-need-to-send-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-down-to-our-public/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [Hunts Point Revival's reuse of the existing structure as part of the new development was conceptually bold and challenging. Overall, the project contained a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mazria/hunts-point-revival-s-reuse-of-the-existing-structure-as-part-of-the/)

[Edward Mazria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mazria/)

> [Support renewable energy. Recycle. Reuse. Restore. Replenish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-black/support-renewable-energy-recycle-reuse-restore-replenish/)

[Claudia Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-black/)

> [I guess this is how love is when it comes undone. No matter how tight you knit the stitches, a sharp tug on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tayari-jones/i-guess-this-is-how-love-is-when-it-comes-undone-no-matter-how-tight/)

[Tayari Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tayari-jones/)

> [That's something I've always been down with: creative commons and people being able to license their music and allow other people to reuse it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/girl-talk/that-s-something-i-ve-always-been-down-with-creative-commons-and/)

[Girl Talk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/girl-talk/)

> [“I’ll eventually replace my charity clothes with things I’ll buy for myself, but not until I’ve worn them through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-cody/i-ll-eventually-replace-my-charity-clothes-with-things-i-ll-buy-for/)

[Jennifer Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-cody/)

> [The purpose - where I start - is the idea of use. It is not recycling, it's reuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issey-miyake/the-purpose-where-i-start-is-the-idea-of-use-it-is-not-recycling-it-s/)

[Issey Miyake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issey-miyake/)

> [The debut show, “Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary,” is supposed to be about how artists reuse humble or unusual materials. There’s good work here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/the-debut-show-second-lives-remixing-the-ordinary-is-supposed-to-be/)

[Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/)

## More by Lawrence Lessig

> [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [As I've indicated, most books go out of print within one year. The same is true of music and film. Commercial culture is sharklike.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/as-i-ve-indicated-most-books-go-out-of-print-within-one-year-the-same/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [I think the reality is that copyright law has for a very long time been a tiny little part of American jurisprudence, far removed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-the-reality-is-that-copyright-law-has-for-a-very-long-time/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [Code plus law is combining to reduce rights consumers used to have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/code-plus-law-is-combining-to-reduce-rights-consumers-used-to-have/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [Overregulation corrupts citizens and weakens the rule of law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/overregulation-corrupts-citizens-and-weakens-the-rule-of-law/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [Power runs with ideas that only the crazy would draw into doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/power-runs-with-ideas-that-only-the-crazy-would-draw-into-doubt/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [Remember the refrain: We always build on the past; the past always tries to stop us. Freedom is about stopping the past, but we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/remember-the-refrain-we-always-build-on-the-past-the-past-always/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [Politics is that rare sport where the amateur contest is actually more interesting than the professional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/politics-is-that-rare-sport-where-the-amateur-contest-is-actually/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [But, like all metaphoric wars, the copyright wars are not actual conflicts of survival. Or at least, they are not conflicts for survival of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/but-like-all-metaphoric-wars-the-copyright-wars-are-not-actual/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [If the only way a library can offer an Internet exhibit about the New Deal is to hire a lawyer to clear the rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/if-the-only-way-a-library-can-offer-an-internet-exhibit-about-the-new/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [Some blame the drug companies. I don't. They are corporations. Their managers are ordered by law to make money for the corporation. They push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/some-blame-the-drug-companies-i-don-t-they-are-corporations-their/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [By the time Apple's Macintosh operating system finally falls into the public domain, there will be no machine that could possibly run it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/by-the-time-apple-s-macintosh-operating-system-finally-falls-into-the/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [As more and more citizens express what they think, and defend it in writing, that will change the way people understand public issues. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/as-more-and-more-citizens-express-what-they-think-and-defend-it-in/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [I think if the copyright regime focuses on the people we are supposed to be helping, the artists and creators, and builds a system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/i-think-if-the-copyright-regime-focuses-on-the-people-we-are-supposed/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

> [There is still the illusion that if we could declare corporations are not people or that money is not speech, all would be solved.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/there-is-still-the-illusion-that-if-we-could-declare-corporations-are/)

[Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

[Explore all 137 Lawrence Lessig quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Creation always involves building upon something else. There is no art that doesn't reuse. And there will be less art if every reuse is taxed by the appropriator.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lawrence Lessig"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/creation-always-involves-building-upon-something-else-there-is-no-art/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Art"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/creation-always-involves-building-upon-something-else-there-is-no-art/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/lawrence-lessig-3201_art_creation-always-involves-building-upon-s_1826493.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/lawrence-lessig-3201_art_creation-always-involves-building-upon-s_1826493.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e17/lawrence-lessig-3201_art_creation-always-involves-building-upon-s_1826493.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Creation always involves building upon something else. There is no art that doesn't reuse. And there will be…” — Lawrence Lessig",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Lawrence Lessig",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Creation always involves building upon something...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/creation-always-involves-building-upon-something-else-there-is-no-art/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/creation-always-involves-building-upon-something-else-there-is-no-art/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```