---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you try to copy something exactly you…"
description: "\"If you try to copy something exactly you won't get it correct, because you don't share the same tradition and context.\" — Michael Craig-Martin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/michael-craig-martin-9157_copies_if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you_1646783.jpg"
---

#  If you try to copy something exactly you won't get it…

![“If you try to copy something exactly you won't get it correct, because you don't share the same tradition and context.” quote by Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/michael-craig-martin-9157_copies_if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you_1646783.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/michael-craig-martin-9157_copies_if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you_1646783.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/michael-craig-martin-9157_copies_if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you_1646783.jpg)

> “If you try to copy something exactly you won't get it correct, because you don't share the same tradition and context.”

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

## About This Quote

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

Copying without shared cultural background leads to misinterpretation and loss of meaning.

**In simple terms:** Copying fails without shared context.

Key Takeaway

Understand the source before replicating.

Themes

culture interpretation art communication

Mood

reflective analytical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- art education
- cross‑cultural collaboration
- design projects

Key Concepts

contextualism semiotics cultural theory

Questions to Reflect On

- How does tradition shape meaning?
- When is adaptation better than copying?

A Different Perspective

Exact replication may ignore nuance and depth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Context](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/context/) [Copies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copies/) [Copy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copy/) [Copy Exactly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/copy-exactly-615511/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Share](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share/) [Share Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/share-tradition-615513/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) [Tradition Context](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition-context-615514/) [Try Copy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/try-copy-615512/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/)

## Related quotes

> [If you're trying to do what's popular now, you're way behind already. By the time you record it and do it and try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/if-you-re-trying-to-do-what-s-popular-now-you-re-way-behind-already/)

[Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/)

> [Don't try to copy me. Don't try to copy any swing out there. Just swing your swing. Do what you can do. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-rahm/don-t-try-to-copy-me-don-t-try-to-copy-any-swing-out-there-just-swing/)

[Jon Rahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-rahm/)

> [Never TRY TO DO A copy of any one Be in a position where others takes you there as a ROLE MODEL](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajat-dogra/never-try-to-do-a-copy-of-any-one-be-in-a-position-where-others-takes/)

[Rajat Dogra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajat-dogra/)

> [You were born God's original. Try not to become someone's copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/you-were-born-god-s-original-try-not-to-become-someone-s-copy/)

[Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/)

> [Do not be awe struck by other people and try to copy them. Nobody can be you as efficiently as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/do-not-be-awe-struck-by-other-people-and-try-to-copy-them-nobody-can/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Even if you try to copy a film shot by shot, you still can't. It's still your own film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/even-if-you-try-to-copy-a-film-shot-by-shot-you-still-can-t-it-s/)

[Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/)

> [They try copy my swagger. I'm on that next shit now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-try-copy-my-swagger-i-m-on-that-next-shit-now/)

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

> [Never try to copy other writers, and never try to have a formula. It has to come from your heart and soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/never-try-to-copy-other-writers-and-never-try-to-have-a-formula-it/)

[Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/)

> [I am repeatedly asked in interviews exactly 'what's wrong' with me, and I always give them the same answer; I don't identify the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/i-am-repeatedly-asked-in-interviews-exactly-what-s-wrong-with-me-and/)

[Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/)

> [The world isn't fast-paced, it's frenetic. People have to be managers of themselves. Time has been managing itself for 15 billion years; we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-world-isn-t-fast-paced-it-s-frenetic-people-have-to-be-managers/)

[Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/)

> [I don't think we have to have a personal relation to a life lost to understand that something terrible has taken place, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/i-don-t-think-we-have-to-have-a-personal-relation-to-a-life-lost-to/)

[Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/)

> [The United States is a very important country to us in the international context. But on other hand, Angola is also important to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/the-united-states-is-a-very-important-country-to-us-in-the/)

[Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/)

> [ People always tend to give the benefit of the doubt to allow people to explain the context \[of their words\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keli-goff/people-always-tend-to-give-the-benefit-of-the-doubt-to-allow-people/)

[Keli Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keli-goff/)

> [“Christianity doesn't answer all my questions or make me comfortable and happy. What it does do is give me a context for living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryan-smith/christianity-doesn-t-answer-all-my-questions-or-make-me-comfortable/)

[James Bryan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryan-smith/)

> [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/)

[Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/)

## More by Michael Craig-Martin

> [You can't honour someone by copying them or trying to be exactly like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/you-can-t-honour-someone-by-copying-them-or-trying-to-be-exactly-like/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [There is a complete difference between art and the art market. Prices are high now for the simple reason that there are people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/there-is-a-complete-difference-between-art-and-the-art-market-prices/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [I had my exhibition of paintings first in Shanghai, and then recently in Wuhan. Wuhan particularly interested me, because I am 1/8 Chinese.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-had-my-exhibition-of-paintings-first-in-shanghai-and-then-recently/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [I try to make images that have the immediate presence we take for granted in objects - a chair, a shoe, a book, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-try-to-make-images-that-have-the-immediate-presence-we-take-for/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [You can see in my paintings, I've taken away the context, I've taken away the shadows, I've taken away expression, I've taken away the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/you-can-see-in-my-paintings-i-ve-taken-away-the-context-i-ve-taken/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [When I told people that I was going to paint the big room magenta, many people thought that I was crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/when-i-told-people-that-i-was-going-to-paint-the-big-room-magenta/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [I don't like the idea of nationalism, but on the other hand, I do see that there is a difference between British art, German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-don-t-like-the-idea-of-nationalism-but-on-the-other-hand-i-do-see/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [I was poorer than anyone I'd ever met. But it was a great time to be a young artist - I remember it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-was-poorer-than-anyone-i-d-ever-met-but-it-was-a-great-time-to-be-a/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [You can't force yourself to be something you are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/you-can-t-force-yourself-to-be-something-you-are-not/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [ \[I\] don't want people to see it \[paintings\] as a specific intention on my part. If somebody has that interest in these objects, of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-don-t-want-people-to-see-it-paintings-as-a-specific-intention-on-my/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [I've taken away everything I could think of, and yet what remains is enough. These days many more people come to my work, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/i-ve-taken-away-everything-i-could-think-of-and-yet-what-remains-is/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [In the period of '60s to the '90s, British art schools were small, and the number of student was small. The personal contact was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/in-the-period-of-60s-to-the-90s-british-art-schools-were-small-and/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [It is very important to develop the thing that you are naturally good at, that you are truly interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/it-is-very-important-to-develop-the-thing-that-you-are-naturally-good/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [The person you admire was true to himself. You can only truly honour him by being true to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/the-person-you-admire-was-true-to-himself-you-can-only-truly-honour/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

> [The art world, of all worlds, has room for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/the-art-world-of-all-worlds-has-room-for-everyone/)

[Michael Craig-Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

[Explore all 75 Michael Craig-Martin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/)

## More Context quotes

> [Pakistan now is like a horror film franchise. You know, it's 'Friday the 13th, Episode 63: The Terrorist from Pakistan.' And each time we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/pakistan-now-is-like-a-horror-film-franchise-you-know-it-s-friday-the/)

[Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/)

> [“Christianity doesn't answer all my questions or make me comfortable and happy. What it does do is give me a context for living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryan-smith/christianity-doesn-t-answer-all-my-questions-or-make-me-comfortable/)

[James Bryan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryan-smith/)

> [ People always tend to give the benefit of the doubt to allow people to explain the context \[of their words\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keli-goff/people-always-tend-to-give-the-benefit-of-the-doubt-to-allow-people/)

[Keli Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keli-goff/)

> [The United States is a very important country to us in the international context. But on other hand, Angola is also important to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-lourenco/the-united-states-is-a-very-important-country-to-us-in-the/)

[Joao Lourenco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-lourenco/)

> [I don't think we have to have a personal relation to a life lost to understand that something terrible has taken place, especially in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/i-don-t-think-we-have-to-have-a-personal-relation-to-a-life-lost-to/)

[Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/)

> [The world isn't fast-paced, it's frenetic. People have to be managers of themselves. Time has been managing itself for 15 billion years; we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-buzan/the-world-isn-t-fast-paced-it-s-frenetic-people-have-to-be-managers/)

[Tony Buzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-buzan/)

> [I am repeatedly asked in interviews exactly 'what's wrong' with me, and I always give them the same answer; I don't identify the name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-young/i-am-repeatedly-asked-in-interviews-exactly-what-s-wrong-with-me-and/)

[Stella Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-young/)

> [To quote out of context is the essence of the photographer's craft.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-szarkowski/to-quote-out-of-context-is-the-essence-of-the-photographer-s-craft/)

[John Szarkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-szarkowski/)

> [Captaining your country, going out at Wembley, captaining Arsenal to 10 trophies, playing your first game - they're all amazing things. But, phew, saving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/captaining-your-country-going-out-at-wembley-captaining-arsenal-to-10/)

[Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/)

> [With 'I Want Action,' I think people take it in the context of the Sunset Strip and the party scene; it was tongue-in-cheek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-michaels/with-i-want-action-i-think-people-take-it-in-the-context-of-the/)

[Bret Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-michaels/)

> [The still image continues to have a ton of strength. An image taken out of context from one fraction of a second to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-greenberg/the-still-image-continues-to-have-a-ton-of-strength-an-image-taken/)

[Jill Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-greenberg/)

> [I think where a lot of the stuff came from is that it started as something else and then it was transformed into something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-granduciel/i-think-where-a-lot-of-the-stuff-came-from-is-that-it-started-as/)

[Adam Granduciel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-granduciel/)

> [Context is to data what water is to a dolphin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-simmons/context-is-to-data-what-water-is-to-a-dolphin/)

[Dan Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-simmons/)

> [ “\[Mood allocates\] investments of time, effort, resources, and risk taking to maximize Darwinian fitness in situations of varying propitiousness. High and low moods adjust… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randolph-m-nesse/mood-allocates-investments-of-time-effort-resources-and-risk-taking/)

[Randolph M. Nesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randolph-m-nesse/)

> [For me context is the key - from that comes the understanding of everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-noland/for-me-context-is-the-key-from-that-comes-the-understanding-of/)

[Kenneth Noland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-noland/)

[Browse all 430 Context quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/context/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If you try to copy something exactly you won't get it correct, because you don't share the same tradition and context.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Craig-Martin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you-won-t-get-it-correct-because/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Context"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you-won-t-get-it-correct-because/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/michael-craig-martin-9157_copies_if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you_1646783.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/michael-craig-martin-9157_copies_if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you_1646783.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/060/michael-craig-martin-9157_copies_if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you_1646783.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If you try to copy something exactly you won't get it correct, because you don't share the same tradition…” — Michael Craig-Martin",
                "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": "Michael Craig-Martin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-craig-martin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If you try to copy something...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you-won-t-get-it-correct-because/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-craig-martin/if-you-try-to-copy-something-exactly-you-won-t-get-it-correct-because/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```