Those writers who lay on the watch for novelty, could have little hope of greatness; for great things cannot have escaped former observation.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Writers chasing novelty rarely achieve greatness; true greatness builds on earlier ideas.
- In plain terms
- Originality often stems from reworking existing observations.
- What can you take from it?
- Study past works before trying to be novel.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much should creators rely on tradition?
- When is novelty essential?
Another view
Some breakthroughs truly break from tradition.
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