My first reading of Tolstoy affected me as a revelation from heaven, as the trumpet of the judgment. What he made me feel was not the desire to imitate, but the conviction that imitation was futile.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Reading Tolstoy felt like a revelation that showed imitation was futile rather than inspiring the desire to copy him.
- In plain terms
- Tolstoy's work revealed that trying to imitate him was pointless.
- What can you take from it?
- Great art inspires unique paths rather than imitation.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you imitate your heroes?
- How do you find your style?
Another view
Some readers may still find value in imitating masters as a learning tool.
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