Tuesday 1 August 2006

Fewtril #110

A great test of character is whether one can — for the sake of truth or beauty or virtue — forbear originality.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I sometimes wonder if nowadays the creative imitation of a Vergil or a Milton would be dismissed as plagiarism.

dearieme said...

It would be OK if it were "subversive", Tom.

Deogolwulf said...

Thanks, Bill. Yes, I mean in the sense of novelty. I think the word "originality" in this sense brings to mind more readily than the word "novelty" a sense also of egotism - besides, it is the word the senseless novelty-mongers use of themselves.