Citatepedia^®.com

Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

quote by Voltaire
Added by Lucian Velea
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Borrowed

borrowed shirts, borrowed shoes,
borrowed books, borrowed thoughts,
borrowed bed, borrowed lover,
borrowed dreams, borrowed salt.

borrowed children, borrowed mothers,
borrowed study, borrowed lives.
borrowed God, borrowed heaven,
borrowed killers with borrowed knives.

borrowed flags, borrowed lies,
borrowed virtue, borrowed freedom.
borrowed bombs, borrowed bullets,
borrowed puppets, borrowed kingdoms.

borrowed soup bowls, borrowed numbers,
borrowed tents, borrowed bridge.
borrowed hope, borrowed survival,
borrowed till it's sacrilige!

poem by Eric Cockrell
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Song: On Borrowed Time

We're all living on borrowed time,
Near the brooding sea and brine.
And we grow our primate's spine,
In every clime.

Since we crawled out from 'neath the grime,
And evolved to a species – prime.
We've been living on borrowed time,
On borrowed time.

On borrowed time. We feed and dine.
On borrowed time. In swill like swine.
On borrowed time. We sup our wine.
On borrowed time. On borrowed time!

On borrowed time. In slow decline.
On borrowed time. No season shines.
On borrowed time. No reason rhymes.
On borrowed time. On borrowed time!

We're all living on borrowed time,
Acting out our roles in mime,
As if you cannot tell that I'm confused.
We're all living on borrowed time,
And we're captured hook and line.
Enraptured lives entwine as minds unloose.

On borrowed time, by frantic chime,
Of doomsday clocks and scam sub-prime.
On borrowed time, we count the dime.
On borrowed time. On borrowed time!

From that day of Eve's droll crime,
When dull Adam su*ked the lime,
We've been living on borrowed time,
On borrowed time.

On borrowed time. By dread defined.
On borrowed time. Knee-deep in slime.
On borrowed time. We moan and whine.
On borrowed time. On borrowed time!

On borrowed time. To heights sublime.
On borrowed time. Statistics climb.
On borrowed time. Who reads the signs?
On borrowed time. On borrowed time!

poem by David SmithWhite
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on IMitation (will that anger you?)

L'imitazione del male supera sempre l'esempio; comme per il contrario, l'imitazione del bene e sempre inferiore.]

Respicere exemplar
vitae morumque jubebo
Doctum imitatorem,
et veras hinc ducere voces.

Pindarum quisquis studet aemulari,
lule ceratis ope Daedalea Nititur pennis,
vitreo daturus Nomina ponto.

Dociles imitandis Turpibus ac pravis omnes sumus
C'est un betail servile et sot a mon avis Que les imitateurs.]

Der Mensch ist ein nachahmendes Geschopf.
Und wer Vorderste ist, fuhrt die Heerde.

Paradoxically though it may seem,
it is none the less true
that life imitates art far more
than art imitates life.

Imitation is suicide.

One who imitates what is bad always goes beyond his model; while one who imitates what is good always comes up short of it.

No man ever yet became great by imitation.

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us
to an understanding of ourselves.

Most people are other people.
Their thoughts are someone else's opinions,
their lives a mimicry,
their passions a quotation.

Those who do not want to imitate anything,
produce nothing.

To be as good as our fathers we must be better,
imitation is not discipleship

Insist on yourself; never imitate.

Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.

Imitation, if noble and general,
insures the best hope of originality.

[...] Read more

poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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The Original Wrapper

I was sittin home on the west end
Watchin cable tv with a female friend
We were watchin the news, the worlds in a mess
The poor and the hungry, a world in distress
Herpes, aids, the middle east at full throttle
Better check that sausage, before you put it in the waffle
And while youre at it, check whats in the batter
Make sure that candys in the original wrapper
Hey, pitcher, better check that batter
Make sure that candys in the original wrapper
Reagan says abortions murder
While hes looking at cardinal oconnor
Look at jerry falwell louis farrakhan
Both talk religion and the brotherhood of man
They both sound like they belong in teheran
Watch out, theyre goin full throttle
Better check that sausage, before you stick it in the waffle
And while youre at it better check, whats in the batter
Make sure that candys in the original wrapper
Hey, pitcher, better check that batter
Make sure that candys in the original wrapper
White against white, black against jew
It seems like its 1942
The baby sits in front of mtv
Watching violent fantasies
While dad guzzles beer with his favorite sport
Only to find his heroes are all coked up
Classic, original, the same old story
The politics of hate in a new surrounding
Hate if its good and hate if its bad
And if this all dont make you mad
Ill keep yours and Ill keep mine
Nothing sacred and nothing divine
Father, bless me, were at full throttle
Better check that sausage, before you put it in the waffle
And while youre at it better check that batter
Make sure the candys in the original wrapper
Hey, pitcher, better check that batter
Make sure that candys in the original wrapper, hey, hey
I was born in the united states
And I grew up hard but I grew up straight
I saw a lack of morals and a lack of concern
A feeling that theres nowhere to turn
Yippies, hippies and upwardly mobile yuppies
Dont treat me like Im some dumb lackey
cause the murderer lives while the victims die
Id much rather see it an eye for an eye
A heart for a heart, a brain for a brain
And if this all makes you feel a little insane
Kick up your heels, turn the music up loud

[...] Read more

song performed by Lou Reed
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Elvis Imitators

By: steve goodman, michael smith
1981
-- spoken:
Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen. Id like to do this next song especially for you. and for the king.
Well....
I walk up to the mike and and then I shake my hips
I take a deep breath and put a snare on my lips
See me on the street you wouldnt know my name
But imitating elvis is my claim to fame
So when you put my imitation name in lights
Therell be imitation good rockin tonight
Cuz Im an an elvis imitator and I just cant stop
Imitating elvis from the bottom to the top
Imitate the way he talked, the way he smiled
I throw away my scarf and make the crowd go wild
This imitation elvis may not be the king
But baby Im the next best thing
Singing viva las vegas and the g.i. blues
Wont you love me tender in my blue suede shoes
Well let me be your teddy bear, if you must
Oh baby please surrender, cause I need your touch
Well if you feelin lonely, need a place to dwell
Come on down to imitation heartbreak hotel
Chorus:
Were gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh were gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh were gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh were gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Yeah my gold lamee cape and my sequined suit
Pompadou haircut and my high-heeled boots
Imitating elvis is the only way
I can make it through my imitation day
I know this rocking music cant be denied
cause I was imitating him before he died
Well Im an an elvis imitator and I just cant stop
Imitating elvis from the bottom to the top
I imitate the way he walked, the way he smiled
I throw away my scarf and make the crowd go wild
This imitation elvis may not be the king
But baby Im the next best thing
Chorus:
Yeah rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh were gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh were gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Ooooh were gonna rock (rock rock rock)
Well baby ... its the next ... best thing
-- spoken:
Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen
Viva las vegas
Viva las vegas

song performed by Jimmy Buffett
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Four Main Types of Writers (personal opinion)

The Lonely Writer

Some writings tell me
This person is lonely
And is reaching out
For the touch of a friendly comment
These writers are sad, solitary,
Isolated, but good persons
And quite often very good writers

The needy juvenile writer

Some writings contain words
Or language meant to shock
And to offend.
These writers are lonely also
But in a different way.
These writers are simply saying
Like a little child
“hey! I exist! Someone better
Acknowledge me! ”
These writers can often write well
But usually don’t, can’t, or choose not to

The Spite Writer

This writer can be of either gender
But seems to be in a female majority
They’ve been spurned or rejected
Two-timed or lied to.
And they are going to vent their ire
In the most public way they can.
These writers can also be very good writers
But too often let their anger get in the way.

The Religious Writer

These writers show people passionate
And zealously devoted to singing the praises
Of the Lord and goodness and charity.
They’re probably austere, honest people
Who almost always write very well.
For the most part these writers seem
To want to spread the word and
At the same time tend to be rather singular
In the subject matter of their writings,
Rarely attempting other genres.

poem by David Whalen
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Originality is nothing by judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another.

quote by Voltaire
Added by Lucian Velea
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You Little Fool

Daddys best girl in the world is not supposed to have a boyfriend
But shes never wanted at home
Other girls are allowed to wear their makeup
She sneaks out her lipstick powder and comb
She surrounds his name with hearts and flowers
Talks on the telephone for hours and hours
But with the bird in his hand
And two on a string
The words of love have an imitation ring
You little fool, you little fool
I suppose that your going to stay all night
You little fool
Dont look at me that way you know it isnt right
You little fool
They say no news is good news
The little girl wants information
Mother just gives her some pills to choose
And says go and use your imagination
Daddys best girl in the world says just look what I have got
As she sits beside him on the high stool
With his arm around her neck snowball in one hand
And the other full of imitation jewels
She fingers a string of pearls
An imitation but hell never know it
Imitation lashes flutter above
Looking for an imitation of love
You little fool
I suppose that your going to stay all night
You little fool
So dont look at me that way you know it isnt right
You little fool

song performed by Elvis Costello
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Original Sin

Ive been looking for an original sin.
One with a twist and a bit of a spin.
Ive done all of the old ones.
Till theyve all been done in.
Now Im just looking -
Then Im gone with the wind -
Endlessly searching for an original sin.
You can dance forever.
You got a fire in your feet.
But will it ever be enough?
You know itll never be enough.
You can fly and never land.
And never need to sleep.
But will it ever be enough?
You know itll never be enough.
Not enough to make the nightmares go away.
Not enough to make the tears run dry.
Not enough to live a littel better everyday.
Everything that they taught us.
Was nothing but lies.
Everthing thing they brought us.
Was nothing but bribes.
But itll all be over now -
All I wanted was a piece of the night.
I never got an equal share.
When the stars are out of sight.
And the moon is down -
The natives are so restless tonight.
Ive been looking for an original sin.
One with a twist and a bit of a spin.
Ive done all of the old ones.
Till theyve all been done in.
Now Im just looking -
Then Im gone with the wind -
Endlessly searching for an original sin.
You can lose yourself in pleasure.
Till your bodys going numb.
But will it ever be enough?
You know itll never be enough.
You can always take whatever.
You conceivably could want.
But will it ever be enough?
You know itll never be enough.
Not enough to make the nightmares go away.
Not enough to make the tears run dry.
Not enough to live a littel better everyday.
Everything that they taught us.
Was nothing but lies.
Everthing thing they brought us.
Was nothing but bribes.

[...] Read more

song performed by Meat Loaf
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Borrowed Time

When I was younger
Living confusion and deep dispair
When I was younger ah hah
Living illusion of freedom and power
When I was younger
Full of ideas and broken dreams (my friend)
When I was younger ah hah
Everything simple but not so clear
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Now I am older
The more that I see the less that I know for sure
Now I am older ah hah
The future is brighter and now is the hour
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Good to be older
Would not exchange a single day or a year
Good to be older ah hah
Less complications everything clear
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow

song performed by Lennon John
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Love Me Lide There's No Tomorrow

Hold me like there's no next time
Like it's the last time you'll have the chance too
Show me how much you want me
Like I'm the only thing that matters
No one knows when the world's gonna end
So let's make love like we never will again
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
I hope we live forever
And that day will never come, but darlin'
I know if it ever happens
I couldn't imagine not being in your arms
There's so much we take for granted in life
So love me baby like we're running out of time
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
Hold me like there's no next time
Like it's the last time you'll have the chance too
Show me how much you want me
Like I'm the only thing that matters
No one knows when the world's gonna end
So let's make love like we never will again
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
I hope we live forever
And that day will never come, but darlin'
I know if it ever happens
I couldn't imagine not being in your arms
There's so much we take for granted in life
So love me baby like we're running out of time
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow

song performed by Trace Adkins
Added by Lucian Velea
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Love Me Lide There's No Tomorrow

Hold me like there's no next time
Like it's the last time you'll have the chance too
Show me how much you want me
Like I'm the only thing that matters
No one knows when the world's gonna end
So let's make love like we never will again
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
I hope we live forever
And that day will never come, but darlin'
I know if it ever happens
I couldn't imagine not being in your arms
There's so much we take for granted in life
So love me baby like we're running out of time
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
Hold me like there's no next time
Like it's the last time you'll have the chance too
Show me how much you want me
Like I'm the only thing that matters
No one knows when the world's gonna end
So let's make love like we never will again
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
I hope we live forever
And that day will never come, but darlin'
I know if it ever happens
I couldn't imagine not being in your arms
There's so much we take for granted in life
So love me baby like we're running out of time
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow
'Cause if the sun never rises, I wanna go down in flames
I want the last thing I hear to be you whisperin' my name
If every moment together is time that we borrowed
Then hold me tight and love me like there's no tomorrow

song performed by Trace Adkins
Added by Lucian Velea
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Most Writers

Most writers 'twould seem have moments of self doubt
But they never go short of things to write about
And to become a top writer of one a big ask
And to succeed as a writer for many seems too daunting a task.

Most writers do not write for wealth or for fame
And despite lack of success they pen on just the same
For every one hundred thousand writers perhaps one writing millionaire
Amongst the ranks of the wealthy the writers are rare.

Few writers can hope for to scale success height
For the love of writing they only do write
Few writers get published and fewer know of success
But in their writings on paper their thoughts they express.

Most writers will never know wealth and renown
And they are not even well known in their own Hometown
They never will be known beyond their home shore
They write for the love of it and little more.

poem by Francis Duggan
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Writer's Drought

You've heard of a thing called writer's block and you've heard of writer's drought
But writers are never short of things on which they can write about
It's just at times their inspiration well does seem to run dry
And they cannot seem to pen a line though hard enough they try.

The writers drought it causes writers moments of self doubt
Till the words that seem locked in them eventually flow out
Through their pens to their notebooks their dry spells do not last
And on time lost out on penning words they seem to catch up fast.

Some writers in their writing drought cannot seem to feel inspired
To write even a single line they feel mentally tired
But when fresh inspiration comes to them much better stuff they do write
And feeling re-invigorated they sit and pen all night.

Most writers you will talk to of writers drought can tell
When there is no inspiration in their inspiration well
But when inspiration returns to them and their creative juices flow
They become much better writers and in self confidence grow.

poem by Francis Duggan
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Our Love Was Is

Our love was ...
Our love was ...
Our love was famine, frustration
Our love was famine, frustration
We only acted out an imitation
We only acted out an imitation
Of what real love should have been
Of what real love should have been
Then suddenly ...
Then suddenly ...
Our love was flying
Our love was flying
Our love was soaring
Our love was soaring
Our love was shining
Our love was shining
Like a summer morning
Like a summer morning
Flying, soaring
Flying, soaring
Shining morning
Shining morning
Never leaving
Never leaving
Lying, dying
Lying, dying
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long

[...] Read more

song performed by Who
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Sonnet LX - Variations In Imitation - after William Shakespeare

See below W S Sonnet LX for English and French variations

Sonnet LX

Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore
So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do contend.
Nativity, once in the main of light
Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown’d,
Crooked eclipses ‘gainst his glory fight
And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.
Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth
And delves the parallels in beauty’s brow
Feeds on the rareities of Nature’s truth,
And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow;
And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,
Praising thy worth despite his cruel hand.

William SHAKESPEARE shak1_0008_shak1_0000 PST_DZX
________________________

So nnet LX Imitation - Par Vagues

Par vagues, s’approchant à la rive pierreuse,
Nos instants précieux écument leur destin,
Chacun son précédent remplaçant en chemin,
Le tout se bousculant - avancée périlleuse.
Le Temps notre jeunesse avale et l’âme heureuse,
Avance, et, mûrissant, se voit sacrée: sa main
Dispute nos chansons, gloires d’antan, - déclin
Que le faucheur étale, éclipse malheureuse.
Le Temps reprend ses dons, de profonds sillons creuse,
Des affronts forts profonds au front jadis si saint,
En dévorant les traces de notre grâce éteinte,
Aucun ne faisant face à sa fauche rieuse!
Pourtant malgré le Temps, sa main sans pitié,
Ces lignes attendent un jour coulant de vérité.

15 December 1991 revised 2005 robi3_0508_shak1_0008 PFT_DZX see robi3_0654
Translation William SHAKESPEARE – Sonnet LX for previous version see below

__________________

Sonnet LX

Ainsi qu’aux vagues visant la rive pierreuse,
Nos instants précieux se hâtent vers leur destin,
Chacun son précedent remplaçant en chemin,

[...] Read more

poem by Jonathan Robin
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Free of Imitation

It's not ironic that I'm simple.
And prefer simplicity.
I've found a basicness that's easy.
And it suits me beautifully.

I use to be the one to introject,
My intellect and will.
Feeling if I addressed impressions...
I would also prove my skills.

But I was just like everybody,
Wishing 'somebody' to be.
Free of imitation...
Yet involved in situations.

I was just like everybody,
Wishing 'somebody' to be.
Free of imitation...
Yet involved in situations,
Like a need.

It's not ironic that I'm simple.
And prefer simplicity.
I've found a basicness that's easy.
And it suits me beautifully.

I was just like everybody,
Wishing 'somebody' to be.
Free of imitation...
Yet involved in situations.

I was just like everybody,
Wishing 'somebody' to be.
Free of imitation...
Yet involved in situations,
Like a need.

I was just like everybody,
Wishing 'somebody' to be..
And with that need.

poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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Borrowed Time

Heard it many times.
Heard it said before.
'your living on borrowed Time'

Sometimes I wonder.
What do people mean?
By it
Your living on
Borrowed time.

I can
Soft of understand.

Time is not always borrowed.
It can be given
Then taken away

So I guess that mostly
Time is borrowed

borrowed time

poem by Amy Louise Kerswell
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We Live On Borrowed Time

WE LIVE ON BORROWED TIME
I never thought there could be a love like yours and mine
I never dreamed that I would see the day that I would find
A love that feels so right, but here we are tonight
And now the only thing we really need is time
We live on borrowed time
No one can be sure when the loan will finally come due
But I'm loving all of mine, I know what time is for,
I've borrowed it so I can spend it all right here with you
There was a time when I believed that life held guarantees
There was a time when I was sure my future was secure,
But life had other plans, the future's in God's hands
And knowing that just makes me love you even more
We live on borrowed time
Yesterday is past, tomorrow seems a million miles away
But I promise you that I'm gonna make love last
By living every moment, every hour, every day
Now we may have a year, or we may have a lifetime,
No one can be certain what the future will allow,
But you and I are here, and this time is the right time
'Cause one thing that I know is that we have each other now, and now,
And we live on borrowed time
Let's celebrate and sing as we walk bravely into the unknown
'Cause we're gonna be just fine, whatever life may bring,
We'll face it all together and we'll never be alone
We'll face it all together and we'll never be alone

song performed by Barry Manilow
Added by Lucian Velea
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On Borrowed Time

Remember not to say a word
If they ask about me
Say you havent heard
Sweet communion
Of the forbidden kind
I live to love you
Only on borrowed time
Are you waiting
Waiting in the dark
For a message, for a sign
Precious these days
Living our ways
On borrowed time
Yeah
Fallen angel
Where do you hide your heart
Under some angry ? ? ?
Alone you fall apart
Oh, youre not forgotten
Youre always on my mind
Whispering words Im waiting, waiting
Only on borrowed time
Someones praying
Praying for your life
For a miracle or sign
Precious these days
Living our ways
On borrowed time
Ill be waiting
Waiting in the night
For a message, for a sign
Precious there days
Living our ways
On borrowed time

song performed by Sheryl Crow
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