--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We always worry that we are copying…" description: "\"We always worry that we are copying someone else, that we don't have our own style. Don't worry. Writing is a communal act. Contrary to popular belief,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b9/natalie-goldberg-1741_arrogant_we-always-worry-that-we-are-copying-some_2440848.png" --- # We always worry that we are copying someone else, that we… ![“We always worry that we are copying someone else, that we don't have our own style. Don't worry. Writing is a communal act. Contrary to popular belief, a writer is not Prometheus alone on a hill full of fire. We are very arrogant to think we alone have a totally original mind. We are carried on…” quote by Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b9/natalie-goldberg-1741_arrogant_we-always-worry-that-we-are-copying-some_2440848.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b9/natalie-goldberg-1741_arrogant_we-always-worry-that-we-are-copying-some_2440848.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6b9/natalie-goldberg-1741_arrogant_we-always-worry-that-we-are-copying-some_2440848.png) > “We always worry that we are copying someone else, that we don't have our own style. Don't worry. Writing is a communal act. Contrary to popular belief, a writer is not Prometheus alone on a hill full of fire. We are very arrogant to think we alone have a totally original mind. We are carried on the backs of all the writers who came before us. We live in the present with all the history, ideas, and soda pop of this time. It all gets mixed up in our writing.” [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing is a collective activity; originality emerges from building on past writers, not from isolated genius. **In simple terms:** Writing builds on others; no one is completely original. Key Takeaway Embrace influence, write authentically. Themes creativity influence humility Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - author workshops - personal essays - creative writing classes - literary criticism Key Concepts intertextuality collective consciousness Questions to Reflect On - How do you acknowledge your influences? - Can you turn borrowed ideas into something new? A Different Perspective Originality is impossible; every work is a remix of prior ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arrogant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogant/) [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Contrary to popular belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary-to-popular-belief/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Hills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hills/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Live in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-present/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Prometheus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prometheus/) [Soda pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soda-pop/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Writers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writers/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [You know that everyone thinks that in order to do South Park we must be wild, crazy, rock and roll stars. But the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/you-know-that-everyone-thinks-that-in-order-to-do-south-park-we-must/) [Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/) > [Lambruscos have been misrepresented by industrial versions that have the soda pop flavor they think Americans want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lidia-bastianich/lambruscos-have-been-misrepresented-by-industrial-versions-that-have/) [Lidia Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lidia-bastianich/) > [What we want is a social harmony, even as we live in a world where any idea about 'the real thing' is as likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-lain/what-we-want-is-a-social-harmony-even-as-we-live-in-a-world-where-any/) [Douglas Lain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-lain/) > [“What was that sound? That rustling noise? It could be heard in the icy North, where there was not one leaf left upon one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/what-was-that-sound-that-rustling-noise-it-could-be-heard-in-the-icy/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“ "Mom, Arnie Welsh keeps calling me a geek. He says it like it's a bad thing. Is being a geek a bad thing?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/mom-arnie-welsh-keeps-calling-me-a-geek-he-says-it-like-it-s-a-bad/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [“We're a nation with an eating disorder, and we know it. The multiple maladies caused by bad eating are taking a dire toll on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/we-re-a-nation-with-an-eating-disorder-and-we-know-it-the-multiple/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [My first modeling job was Gap, and my first time in front of the camera was for a Soda Pop Girls commercial - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hailee-steinfeld/my-first-modeling-job-was-gap-and-my-first-time-in-front-of-the/) [Hailee Steinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hailee-steinfeld/) > [I'm not even old enough to drink a fucking beer, I'm tispy off this soda pop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-the-creator/i-m-not-even-old-enough-to-drink-a-fucking-beer-i-m-tispy-off-this/) [Tyler The Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-the-creator/) > [I saw soda pop for $1.20 a six pack. That price messes with your head. You start thinking you're gonna sell soda pop. Suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-saw-soda-pop-for-1-20-a-six-pack-that-price-messes-with-your-head/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [No pork, soda pop, cigarettes, alcohol – ever!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/no-pork-soda-pop-cigarettes-alcohol-ever/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [“Everyone likes everything nowadays. They like the television and the phonograph and the shampoo and the soda pop and the Cracker Jack. Everything becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-logan/everyone-likes-everything-nowadays-they-like-the-television-and-the/) [John Logan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-logan/) > [Reformers have long observed city people loitering on busy corners, hanging around in candy stores and bars and drinking soda popon stoops, and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/reformers-have-long-observed-city-people-loitering-on-busy-corners/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I made it this far eating fruit roll-ups and having soda pop and having fun. I feel like I tried changing that to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-cerrone/i-made-it-this-far-eating-fruit-roll-ups-and-having-soda-pop-and/) [Donald Cerrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-cerrone/) > [The consumption of alcohol is increasing among youth. Targeting young audiences, advertisers portray beer and wine as joyful, socially desirable, and harmless. Producers are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/the-consumption-of-alcohol-is-increasing-among-youth-targeting-young/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [You cannot expect your children to be happy eating esoteric beige-colored foods when their friends get soda pop, Snickers, and Twinkies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/you-cannot-expect-your-children-to-be-happy-eating-esoteric-beige/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) ## More by Natalie Goldberg > [“We heard about people who go back to their roots. That is good, but don't get stuck in the root. There is the branch,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/we-heard-about-people-who-go-back-to-their-roots-that-is-good-but-don/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Over and over, we have to go back to the beginning. We should not be ashamed of this. It is good. It's like drinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/over-and-over-we-have-to-go-back-to-the-beginning-we-should-not-be/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I feel very rich when I have time to write and very poor when I get a regular paycheck and no time at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-feel-very-rich-when-i-have-time-to-write-and-very-poor-when-i-get-a/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Actually, when I look at my old notebooks, I think I have been a bit self-indulgent and have given myself too much time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/actually-when-i-look-at-my-old-notebooks-i-think-i-have-been-a-bit/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Our bodies are garbage heaps: we collect experience, and from the decomposition of the thrown-out eggshells, spinach leaves, coffee grinds, and old steak bones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/our-bodies-are-garbage-heaps-we-collect-experience-and-from-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Know that you will eventually have to leave everything behind; the writing will demand it of you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/know-that-you-will-eventually-have-to-leave-everything-behind-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [To encounter a fine book and have time to read it is a wonderful thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/to-encounter-a-fine-book-and-have-time-to-read-it-is-a-wonderful-thing/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [In the past few years I've assigned books to be read before a student attends one of my weeklong seminars. I have been astonished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/in-the-past-few-years-i-ve-assigned-books-to-be-read-before-a-student/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“When you draw and pay attention to what is, it's a form of being present. This inspires the mind, makes it happy, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/when-you-draw-and-pay-attention-to-what-is-it-s-a-form-of-being/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [Poetry is a dumb Buddha who thinks a donkey is as important as a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/poetry-is-a-dumb-buddha-who-thinks-a-donkey-is-as-important-as-a/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I told all kinds of stories about going to Japan, about playing ball with my father... I wanted to record my life in case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-told-all-kinds-of-stories-about-going-to-japan-about-playing-ball/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [“No matter what a person does to cover up and conceal themselves, when we write and lose control, I can spot a person from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/no-matter-what-a-person-does-to-cover-up-and-conceal-themselves-when/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [To stay close and intimate with experience is to stay close to the mind; the nitty gritty mind of the way things really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/to-stay-close-and-intimate-with-experience-is-to-stay-close-to-the/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [I read Eve Ensler and thought it was fabulous. Not only that, but it was really the only thing I could relate to about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/i-read-eve-ensler-and-thought-it-was-fabulous-not-only-that-but-it/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) > [If you feel bored or uncomfortable as you're writing, ask yourself what's bothering you and write about that. Sometimes your creative energy is like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-goldberg/if-you-feel-bored-or-uncomfortable-as-you-re-writing-ask-yourself/) [Natalie Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) [Explore all 212 Natalie Goldberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-goldberg/) ## More Arrogant quotes > [How arrogant - how very far from humility - would be the self-satisfied, smug assurance that God, a tidy-up-after-us God will come and clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/how-arrogant-how-very-far-from-humility-would-be-the-self-satisfied/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [ \[T\]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-after-year-a-symbol-of/) [Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/) > [What I would say to filmmakers, if I may be so bold or so arrogant, is to draw inspiration from other filmmakers, but go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/what-i-would-say-to-filmmakers-if-i-may-be-so-bold-or-so-arrogant-is/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [In politics we face the choice between warmongering, nation-state loving, big-business agents on one hand; and risk-blind, top-down, epistemic arrogant big servants of large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/in-politics-we-face-the-choice-between-warmongering-nation-state/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [I absolutely hate arrogant people, irks me to no end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-absolutely-hate-arrogant-people-irks-me-to-no-end/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [Mourinho is a bit arrogant, but you've got to like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nicol/mourinho-is-a-bit-arrogant-but-you-ve-got-to-like-him/) [Steve Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nicol/) > [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/) [Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/) > [I was spoiled and I was arrogant. I was very demanding, had an overblown image of who I was and got a reputation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judge-reinhold/i-was-spoiled-and-i-was-arrogant-i-was-very-demanding-had-an/) [Judge Reinhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judge-reinhold/) > [We are not being arrogant or complacent when we are said that our country, as a united nation, has never in its entire history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-are-not-being-arrogant-or-complacent-when-we-are-said-that-our/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [“So you intend to go through life never loving anyone? Just … things?” “No. I’m looking for something more.” “More than love?” “Yes.” “Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ahdieh/so-you-intend-to-go-through-life-never-loving-anyone-just-things-no-i/) [Renee Ahdieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ahdieh/) > [People are tired of wasteful government programs and welfare chiselers, and they are angry about the constant spiral of taxes and government regulations, arrogant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/people-are-tired-of-wasteful-government-programs-and-welfare/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [“He was a man. Handsome as sin, arrogant as fuck, and in need of at least one woman to prove he wasn’t God’s gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-blue/he-was-a-man-handsome-as-sin-arrogant-as-fuck-and-in-need-of-at-least/) [Melissa Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-blue/) > [Being nice to people gets you nowhere. Being arrogant gets you nowhere. Blackmail, now that's a thing that will get you everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-to-people-gets-you-nowhere-being-arrogant-gets-you-nowhere/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's amusing how arrogant people can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amusing-how-arrogant-people-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,146 Arrogant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogant/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We always worry that we are copying someone else, that we don't have our own style. Don't worry. Writing is a communal act. Contrary to popular belief, a writer is not Prometheus alone on a hill full of fire. We are very arrogant to think we alone have a totally original mind. We are carried on the backs of all the writers who came before us. 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