--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was so lucky that I didn't have anyone…" description: "\"I was so lucky that I didn't have anyone to copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style, I was creating before I knew there was a Thurber, a Be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/shel-silverstein-1914_copies_i-was-so-lucky-that-i-didn-t-have-anyone_1305239.jpg" --- # I was so lucky that I didn't have anyone to copy, be… ![“I was so lucky that I didn't have anyone to copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style, I was creating before I knew there was a Thurber, a Benchley, a Price and a Steinberg. I never saw their work until I was around thirty.” quote by Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/shel-silverstein-1914_copies_i-was-so-lucky-that-i-didn-t-have-anyone_1305239.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/shel-silverstein-1914_copies_i-was-so-lucky-that-i-didn-t-have-anyone_1305239.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/987/shel-silverstein-1914_copies_i-was-so-lucky-that-i-didn-t-have-anyone_1305239.jpg) > “I was so lucky that I didn't have anyone to copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style, I was creating before I knew there was a Thurber, a Benchley, a Price and a Steinberg. I never saw their work until I was around thirty.” [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Developing a unique voice comes from personal effort, not imitation. **In simple terms:** Create your own style. Key Takeaway Cultivate originality. Themes creativity individuality artistic growth Mood reflective inspirational Type artistic motivational When to use this quote - writing - visual art - performance - teaching Key Concepts self‑discovery influence originality Questions to Reflect On - What steps help you find your authentic voice? - How do you resist copying others? A Different Perspective Originality can be hindered by market pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [My own style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own-style/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thurber/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [People ask me where I got my singing style. I didn't copy my style from anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-presley/people-ask-me-where-i-got-my-singing-style-i-didn-t-copy-my-style/) [Elvis Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-presley/) > [All the blues greats took chances and developed their own style. They didn't copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cray/all-the-blues-greats-took-chances-and-developed-their-own-style-they/) [Robert Cray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cray/) > [I learned a lot from other people, and was inspired by what they did, but I didn't copy anyone. I put many different blocks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yngwie-malmsteen/i-learned-a-lot-from-other-people-and-was-inspired-by-what-they-did/) [Yngwie Malmsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yngwie-malmsteen/) > [I never quite know when I'm not writing. Sometimes my wife comes up to me at a party and says, "Dammit, Thurber, stop writing."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/i-never-quite-know-when-i-m-not-writing-sometimes-my-wife-comes-up-to/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [Thurber did not write the way a surgeon operates, he wrote the way a child skips rope, the way a mouse waltzes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/thurber-did-not-write-the-way-a-surgeon-operates-he-wrote-the-way-a/) [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) > [“While I love most, not to say all, of James Thurber’s cartoons, there are a handful that seem especially”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dirda/while-i-love-most-not-to-say-all-of-james-thurber-s-cartoons-there/) [Michael Dirda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dirda/) > [Leaders are problem solvers by talent and temperament, and by choice. For them, the new information environment-undermining old means of control, opening up old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-cleveland/leaders-are-problem-solvers-by-talent-and-temperament-and-by-choice/) [Harlan Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-cleveland/) > [Technically, 'Kukla, Fran and Ollie' was a kids' show, but adults watched almost religiously - and we're talking adult adults, celebrated adults - including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-shales/technically-kukla-fran-and-ollie-was-a-kids-show-but-adults-watched/) [Tom Shales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-shales/) > [Thurber was asked by a correspondent: "Why did you have a comma in the sentence, 'After dinner, the men went into the living-room'?" And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-truss/thurber-was-asked-by-a-correspondent-why-did-you-have-a-comma-in-the/) [Lynne Truss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-truss/) > [Humor is, I think, the subtlest and chanciest of literary forms. It is surely not accidental that there are a thousand novelists, essayists, poets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/humor-is-i-think-the-subtlest-and-chanciest-of-literary-forms-it-is/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [It was Lisa, aged five, whose mother asked her to thank my wife for the peas we had sent them from our garden. 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/it-was-lisa-aged-five-whose-mother-asked-her-to-thank-my-wife-for-the/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [A guest at a dinner party observed the strange expression on James Thurber's face. 'Don't be concerned,' said Thurber's wife. 'He's writing.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/a-guest-at-a-dinner-party-observed-the-strange-expression-on-james/) [Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/) > [“Despite an icy northeast wind huffing across the bay I sneak out after dark, after my mother falls asleep clutching her leather Bible, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/despite-an-icy-northeast-wind-huffing-across-the-bay-i-sneak-out/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“Memory in the mind of man can adapt to the worst conditions. I'll give you an example, an analogy of sorts: Each night I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/memory-in-the-mind-of-man-can-adapt-to-the-worst-conditions-i-ll-give/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [My own style influences have to do with where I grew up, in the Bronx, and I still like to wear bangles and big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/my-own-style-influences-have-to-do-with-where-i-grew-up-in-the-bronx/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) ## More by Shel Silverstein > [“I cannot go to school today" Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-cannot-go-to-school-today-said-little-peggy-ann-mckay-i-have-the/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Oh, I'm being eaten By a boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, A boa constrictor, I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor, And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/oh-i-m-being-eaten-by-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa-constrictor-a-boa/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Many leaves one tree”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/many-leaves-one-tree/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Magic Sandra’s seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/magic-sandra-s-seen-a-leprechaun-eddie-touched-a-troll-laurie-danced/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [He has the obligation to society that any human being has. I don't think a satirist has any greater obligation to society than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/he-has-the-obligation-to-society-that-any-human-being-has-i-don-t/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would not take the garbage out! She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans, Candy the yams and spice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/sarah-cynthia-sylvia-stout-would-not-take-the-garbage-out-she-d-scour/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/to-me-freedom-entitles-you-to-do-something-not-to-not-do-something/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ol' man Simon, planted a diamond. Grew hisself a garden the likes of none. Sprouts all growin' comin' up glowin' Fruit of jewels all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ol-man-simon-planted-a-diamond-grew-hisself-a-garden-the-likes-of/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ma and God God gave us fingers--Ma says, "Use your fork." God gave us voices--Ma says, "Don't scream." Ma says eat broccoli, cereal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ma-and-god-god-gave-us-fingers-ma-says-use-your-fork-god-gave-us/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [Ourchestra: So you haven't got a drum, just beat your belly. So I haven't got a horn-I'll play my nose. So we haven't any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ourchestra-so-you-haven-t-got-a-drum-just-beat-your-belly-so-i-haven/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [“Ickle me, pickle me, tickle me too never returned to the world they knew and nobody knows what happened to dear ickle me, pickle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/ickle-me-pickle-me-tickle-me-too-never-returned-to-the-world-they/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [I would hope that people, no matter what age, would find something to identify with in my books, pick one up and experience a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/i-would-hope-that-people-no-matter-what-age-would-find-something-to/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [What you've got to say, you say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/what-you-ve-got-to-say-you-say/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [G'bye, I'm going out to play!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/g-bye-i-m-going-out-to-play/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) > [A spider lives inside my head Who weaves a strange and wondrous web Of silken threads and silver strings To catch all sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shel-silverstein/a-spider-lives-inside-my-head-who-weaves-a-strange-and-wondrous-web/) [Shel Silverstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) [Explore all 198 Shel Silverstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shel-silverstein/) ## More Copies quotes > [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/) > [My songs are like cheap Neil Young copies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-bachman/my-songs-are-like-cheap-neil-young-copies/) [Randy Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-bachman/) > [In that part of the book of my memory before the which is little that can be read, there is a rubric, saying, Incipit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/in-that-part-of-the-book-of-my-memory-before-the-which-is-little-that/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [I remember being a kid and seeing the 'National Inquirer' at the grocery store checkout line. When somebody actually picked up a copy, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/i-remember-being-a-kid-and-seeing-the-national-inquirer-at-the/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [The idea is not to copy nature, but to give a feeling of nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-oudolf/the-idea-is-not-to-copy-nature-but-to-give-a-feeling-of-nature/) Piet Oudolf > [“When copies are free, you need to sell things that cannot be copied. Well, what can’t be copied? Trust, for instance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-kelly/when-copies-are-free-you-need-to-sell-things-that-cannot-be-copied/) [Kevin Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-kelly/) > [Mr Witwould: "Pray, madam, do you pin up your hair with all your letters? I find I must keep copies." Mrs Millamant: "Only with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-congreve/mr-witwould-pray-madam-do-you-pin-up-your-hair-with-all-your-letters/) [William Congreve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-congreve/) > [There have to be at least two copies of a photograph, otherwise it’s not a photograph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ruff/there-have-to-be-at-least-two-copies-of-a-photograph-otherwise-it-s/) [Thomas Ruff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ruff/) > [In market research I did at Microsoft Corp. in the early 1990s, I estimated that the 'Wall Street Journal' took in about 75 cents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/in-market-research-i-did-at-microsoft-corp-in-the-early-1990s-i/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) > [Guys like Todd Bridges never overcame being a child star. You can't have any big failures. I've always felt regular. I played organized ball…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/guys-like-todd-bridges-never-overcame-being-a-child-star-you-can-t/) [Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/) > [It was only after I had been out of the art school that I actually copied a small Seurat, and I copied it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-riley/it-was-only-after-i-had-been-out-of-the-art-school-that-i-actually/) [Bridget Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-riley/) > [We call ourselves creators and we just copy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/we-call-ourselves-creators-and-we-just-copy/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [People have one of two extreme reactions to my book. They either throw it across the room, or they rush out and buy 10…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-hay/people-have-one-of-two-extreme-reactions-to-my-book-they-either-throw/) [Louise Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-hay/) > [A presentation copy...is a copy of a book whoch does not sell, sent you by the author, with his foolish autograph at the beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/a-presentation-copy-is-a-copy-of-a-book-whoch-does-not-sell-sent-you/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [We are all born originals, why is it so many of us die copies?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/we-are-all-born-originals-why-is-it-so-many-of-us-die-copies/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) Browse all 971 Copies quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was so lucky that I didn't have anyone to copy, be impressed by. 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