---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People need to deviate away from the role…"
description: "\"“People need to deviate away from the role of imitation, and start filling the role of innovation...”\" — Lionel Suggs"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/lionel-suggs-1621_imitation_people-need-to-deviate-away-from-the-rol_177664.jpg"
---

#  People need to deviate away from the role of imitation…

![“People need to deviate away from the role of imitation, and start filling the role of innovation...” quote by Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/lionel-suggs-1621_imitation_people-need-to-deviate-away-from-the-rol_177664.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/lionel-suggs-1621_imitation_people-need-to-deviate-away-from-the-rol_177664.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/02d/lionel-suggs-1621_imitation_people-need-to-deviate-away-from-the-rol_177664.jpg)

> ““People need to deviate away from the role of imitation, and start filling the role of innovation...””

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

## About This Quote

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

Innovation requires moving beyond copying and actively creating original ideas.

**In simple terms:** Stop copying, start creating.

Key Takeaway

Embrace original thinking.

Themes

creativity innovation originality

Mood

energetic challenging

Type

motivational strategic

When to use this quote

- product development
- art
- education
- entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

design thinking leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- What habits keep you from innovating?
- How can you foster a culture of originality?

A Different Perspective

Innovation can be hindered by fear of failure.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/)

## Related quotes

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[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [Problem with the game now, it ain't no innovation. I see my shit all in your shit, we call that imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/problem-with-the-game-now-it-ain-t-no-innovation-i-see-my-shit-all-in/)

[J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/)

> [A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself . . . with incidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-tragedy-is-the-imitation-of-an-action-that-is-serious-and-also-as/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [Acquiring knowledge is a form of imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/acquiring-knowledge-is-a-form-of-imitation/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Don't envy what people have, emulate what they did to have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/don-t-envy-what-people-have-emulate-what-they-did-to-have-it/)

[Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/)

> [I said breathe. Not do a fish-out of-water imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-said-breathe-not-do-a-fish-out-of-water-imitation/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“most expensive originals have cheap imitations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/most-expensive-originals-have-cheap-imitations/)

[Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/)

> [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [We have lost the good old British spirit. Instead we have American journalism and black-shirted buffoons making a cheap imitation of ice-cream sellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-mosley/we-have-lost-the-good-old-british-spirit-instead-we-have-american/)

[Oswald Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-mosley/)

> [The method of not erring is sought by all the world. The logicians profess to guide it, the geometricians alone attain it, and apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-method-of-not-erring-is-sought-by-all-the-world-the-logicians/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [“Imitation and custom are the spring of almost all human action. The cause of it is that men fight shy of all and any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/imitation-and-custom-are-the-spring-of-almost-all-human-action-the/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

> [Obviously I don't play the same way as Peter, but I could do a passable imitation of Peter Green; if you gave me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/obviously-i-don-t-play-the-same-way-as-peter-but-i-could-do-a/)

[Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/)

> [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [every being is unique.god neva creates carbon copies,he alys creates originals.he is truly a creator.he neva repeats.but man goes on living in imitation.we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-being-is-unique-god-neva-creates-carbon-copies-he-alys-creates/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Imitation is the first instinct of the awakening mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/imitation-is-the-first-instinct-of-the-awakening-mind/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

## More by Lionel Suggs

> [“When God broke his deal with me, I turned to the Devil. In the end, I wasn't happy. I realized that the imagination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/when-god-broke-his-deal-with-me-i-turned-to-the-devil-in-the-end-i/)

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

> [“I don't simply create probabilities, I guide them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/i-don-t-simply-create-probabilities-i-guide-them/)

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

> [“Expectation and fact are two different things that people usually cannot differentiate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/expectation-and-fact-are-two-different-things-that-people-usually/)

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

> [“I stopped living a long time ago, in order to simply exist. Now I am trying to leave existence, in order to step into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/i-stopped-living-a-long-time-ago-in-order-to-simply-exist-now-i-am/)

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

> [“Because it has become a tradition to wear a mask, it is the only thing that shows. The truth is blurry to those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/because-it-has-become-a-tradition-to-wear-a-mask-it-is-the-only-thing/)

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

> [“The problem with freedom is that you are free to succeed, as well as free to fail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/the-problem-with-freedom-is-that-you-are-free-to-succeed-as-well-as/)

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

> [“Making an effort can be equated to not doing anything at all. You don't make an effort to walk, you just walk. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/making-an-effort-can-be-equated-to-not-doing-anything-at-all-you-don/)

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

> [“My reality is at the end of the dream. When I walk down the road of life, searching for the door that will guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-suggs/my-reality-is-at-the-end-of-the-dream-when-i-walk-down-the-road-of/)

[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

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[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

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[Lionel Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

[Explore all 222 Lionel Suggs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-suggs/)

## More Imitation quotes

> [Imitation is the first instinct of the awakening mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/imitation-is-the-first-instinct-of-the-awakening-mind/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [every being is unique.god neva creates carbon copies,he alys creates originals.he is truly a creator.he neva repeats.but man goes on living in imitation.we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-being-is-unique-god-neva-creates-carbon-copies-he-alys-creates/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“You go into extinction by being obsessed about becoming something else and then travelling in the wrong car while your real self keeps waiting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-go-into-extinction-by-being-obsessed-about-becoming-something/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [Obviously I don't play the same way as Peter, but I could do a passable imitation of Peter Green; if you gave me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/obviously-i-don-t-play-the-same-way-as-peter-but-i-could-do-a/)

[Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/)

> [“Imitation and custom are the spring of almost all human action. The cause of it is that men fight shy of all and any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/imitation-and-custom-are-the-spring-of-almost-all-human-action-the/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

> [The method of not erring is sought by all the world. The logicians profess to guide it, the geometricians alone attain it, and apart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/the-method-of-not-erring-is-sought-by-all-the-world-the-logicians/)

[Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/)

> [We have lost the good old British spirit. Instead we have American journalism and black-shirted buffoons making a cheap imitation of ice-cream sellers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-mosley/we-have-lost-the-good-old-british-spirit-instead-we-have-american/)

[Oswald Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-mosley/)

> [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [“most expensive originals have cheap imitations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elfriede-jelinek/most-expensive-originals-have-cheap-imitations/)

[Elfriede Jelinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elfriede-jelinek/)

> [I said breathe. Not do a fish-out of-water imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-said-breathe-not-do-a-fish-out-of-water-imitation/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [“Don't envy what people have, emulate what they did to have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/don-t-envy-what-people-have-emulate-what-they-did-to-have-it/)

[Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/)

> [Acquiring knowledge is a form of imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/acquiring-knowledge-is-a-form-of-imitation/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself . . . with incidents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/a-tragedy-is-the-imitation-of-an-action-that-is-serious-and-also-as/)

[Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/)

> [It is not imitation that makes sons. It is sonship that make imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-make-imitators/)

[Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/)

> [I propose not our enemies as an example for our general imitation, yet, as their navy is the best regulated of any in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-jones/i-propose-not-our-enemies-as-an-example-for-our-general-imitation-yet/)

[John Paul Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-jones/)

Browse all 737 Imitation quotes

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