--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should imitate the great classics. We…" description: "\"We should imitate the great classics. We would miss, and that miss would be our originality.\" — Raymond Radiguet" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/raymond-radiguet-27456_classics_we-should-imitate-the-great-classics-we_1217095.png" --- # We should imitate the great classics. We would miss, and… ![“We should imitate the great classics. We would miss, and that miss would be our originality.” quote by Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/raymond-radiguet-27456_classics_we-should-imitate-the-great-classics-we_1217095.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/raymond-radiguet-27456_classics_we-should-imitate-the-great-classics-we_1217095.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8e/raymond-radiguet-27456_classics_we-should-imitate-the-great-classics-we_1217095.png) > “We should imitate the great classics. We would miss, and that miss would be our originality.” [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Imitating classics can stifle originality; true creativity emerges from personal expression. **In simple terms:** Copying limits originality. Key Takeaway Create from your own voice. Themes creativity originality influence literature identity Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - Writing workshops - artistic mentorship - literary criticism - personal branding Key Concepts Intertextuality authorship innovation culture Questions to Reflect On - What makes a work truly original? - How can tradition inspire new ideas? A Different Perspective Balancing homage with innovation is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Classics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classics/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Originality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originality/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [THE BAD LIFE COACHES IMITATE, THE GREAT LIFE COACHES MODEL.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cv-pillay/the-bad-life-coaches-imitate-the-great-life-coaches-model/) [Cv Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cv-pillay/) > [Originality consists in trying to be like everybody else and failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/originality-consists-in-trying-to-be-like-everybody-else-and-failing/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [If you fall in love with an idea, you won't see the merits of alternative approaches-and will probably miss an opportunity or two. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-von-oech/if-you-fall-in-love-with-an-idea-you-won-t-see-the-merits-of/) [Roger von Oech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-von-oech/) > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“Don't play with others, or at one day, you will be played by others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usama-ejaz/don-t-play-with-others-or-at-one-day-you-will-be-played-by-others/) Usama Ejaz > [“You are too generous to trifle with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/you-are-too-generous-to-trifle-with-me/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Betsy was so full of joy that she had to be alone. She went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on Uncle Keith's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/betsy-was-so-full-of-joy-that-she-had-to-be-alone-she-went-upstairs/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [“A classic is read not to enjoy but only to be boast about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aman-jassal/a-classic-is-read-not-to-enjoy-but-only-to-be-boast-about-it/) [Aman Jassal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aman-jassal/) > [“Poirot, watching him, felt suddenly a doubt--an uncomfortable twinge. Was there, here, something that he had missed? Some richness of the spirit? Sadness crept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/poirot-watching-him-felt-suddenly-a-doubt-an-uncomfortable-twinge-was/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [I like a lot of movies. I like all types of genres. I like the classics - comedy, action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-green/i-like-a-lot-of-movies-i-like-all-types-of-genres-i-like-the-classics/) [Danny Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-green/) > [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Professors of classics - not even a professor of English - professors of classics, they're something sacred; it's almost like being a priest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-segal/professors-of-classics-not-even-a-professor-of-english-professors-of/) [Erich Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-segal/) > [It's so important your customer can rely on you for your classics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-wren-scott/it-s-so-important-your-customer-can-rely-on-you-for-your-classics/) [L'Wren Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-wren-scott/) > [“So it is that in our world hopes are thwarted at every turn and the people's lot is always pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royall-tyler/so-it-is-that-in-our-world-hopes-are-thwarted-at-every-turn-and-the/) Royall Tyler > [I was interested in all kinds of things, whether it be Avatar, Mad Men, Troy, 300, Battlestar Gallactica, or the poems of Horace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/i-was-interested-in-all-kinds-of-things-whether-it-be-avatar-mad-men/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) ## More by Raymond Radiguet > [“ We derive our greatest pleasures not from novelty but from familiarity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/we-derive-our-greatest-pleasures-not-from-novelty-but-from-familiarity/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [“It is at these troubled periods that frivolity, even license, are most easily understood, "because one enjoys with gusto what tomorrow may belong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/it-is-at-these-troubled-periods-that-frivolity-even-license-are-most/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [In my incoherence I was grateful that for a few moments I had known what it was to suffer-or so I thought. But nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/in-my-incoherence-i-was-grateful-that-for-a-few-moments-i-had-known/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [Originality consists in trying to be like everybody else and failing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/originality-consists-in-trying-to-be-like-everybody-else-and-failing/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [It is not in novelty but in habit that we find the greatest pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/it-is-not-in-novelty-but-in-habit-that-we-find-the-greatest-pleasure/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [Facing death calmly is praiseworthy only if one faces it alone. Death together is no longer death, even for unbelievers. The source of sorrows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/facing-death-calmly-is-praiseworthy-only-if-one-faces-it-alone-death/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [“People are jostling at the gates of heaven or Department stores Words are bumping into each other ("Poem")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/people-are-jostling-at-the-gates-of-heaven-or-department-stores-words/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [“ Quand on ment, qu'on dit à une femme qu'on l'aime, on peut croire qu'on ment, mais quelque chose nous a poussé à le…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/quand-on-ment-qu-on-dit-une-femme-qu-on-l-aime-on-peut-croire-qu-on/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [“Her hands clung to my neck; they would not have held me so fast in a shipwreck. And I did not understand whether she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/her-hands-clung-to-my-neck-they-would-not-have-held-me-so-fast-in-a/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [“The flavour of that first kiss disappointed me, like fruit you taste for the first time. It's not in new things that we experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/the-flavour-of-that-first-kiss-disappointed-me-like-fruit-you-taste/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [“Might becomes apparent only through injustice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/might-becomes-apparent-only-through-injustice/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [“Instinct is ourguide; a guide which leads to our fall.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/instinct-is-ourguide-a-guide-which-leads-to-our-fall/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) > [The source of sorrows lies not in leaving life, but in leaving that which gives it meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-radiguet/the-source-of-sorrows-lies-not-in-leaving-life-but-in-leaving-that/) [Raymond Radiguet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) [Explore all 14 Raymond Radiguet quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-radiguet/) ## More Classics quotes > [I was interested in all kinds of things, whether it be Avatar, Mad Men, Troy, 300, Battlestar Gallactica, or the poems of Horace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/i-was-interested-in-all-kinds-of-things-whether-it-be-avatar-mad-men/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) > [“So it is that in our world hopes are thwarted at every turn and the people's lot is always pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royall-tyler/so-it-is-that-in-our-world-hopes-are-thwarted-at-every-turn-and-the/) Royall Tyler > [It's so important your customer can rely on you for your classics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-wren-scott/it-s-so-important-your-customer-can-rely-on-you-for-your-classics/) [L'Wren Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-wren-scott/) > [Professors of classics - not even a professor of English - professors of classics, they're something sacred; it's almost like being a priest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-segal/professors-of-classics-not-even-a-professor-of-english-professors-of/) [Erich Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-segal/) > [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I like a lot of movies. I like all types of genres. I like the classics - comedy, action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-green/i-like-a-lot-of-movies-i-like-all-types-of-genres-i-like-the-classics/) [Danny Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-green/) > [“Poirot, watching him, felt suddenly a doubt--an uncomfortable twinge. Was there, here, something that he had missed? Some richness of the spirit? Sadness crept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/poirot-watching-him-felt-suddenly-a-doubt-an-uncomfortable-twinge-was/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“A classic is read not to enjoy but only to be boast about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aman-jassal/a-classic-is-read-not-to-enjoy-but-only-to-be-boast-about-it/) [Aman Jassal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aman-jassal/) > [“Betsy was so full of joy that she had to be alone. She went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on Uncle Keith's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/betsy-was-so-full-of-joy-that-she-had-to-be-alone-she-went-upstairs/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [“You are too generous to trifle with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/you-are-too-generous-to-trifle-with-me/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Don't play with others, or at one day, you will be played by others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usama-ejaz/don-t-play-with-others-or-at-one-day-you-will-be-played-by-others/) Usama Ejaz > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“They always looked back before turning the corner, for their mother was always at the window to nod and smile, and wave her hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/they-always-looked-back-before-turning-the-corner-for-their-mother/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I can trace my interest in modern classics to the summer before art college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-can-trace-my-interest-in-modern-classics-to-the-summer-before-art/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [“Those who have not learned to read the ancient classics in the language in which they were written must have a very imperfect knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/those-who-have-not-learned-to-read-the-ancient-classics-in-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 314 Classics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We should imitate the great classics. 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