English / proverb
Good Artists Copy, Great Artists Steal
MEANING IN ENGLISH
Competent creators imitate superficially, but master innovators study predecessors deeply, learn from their mistakes, and transform those ideas into original breakthroughs
In context
01
Steve Jobs often cited 'good artists copy, great artists steal' to explain how Apple refined ideas that others had stumbled with.
02
Instead of repeating competitors' blunders, study their frameworks; remember that good artists copy, great artists steal.
Synonyms
transformative innovation,creative assimilation,standing on the shoulders of giants
Antonyms
mindless plagiarism,pure forgery,blind copying
Collocations
adage that good artists copy great artists steal,believe good artists copy great artists steal,quote good artists copy great artists steal