Quote: The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources

ADSGarson O'Toole adsgarsonotoole at GMAIL.COM
Mon Jun 2 02:51:55 UTC 2014


The quotation in the subject line of this message is typically
attributed to Albert Einstein. There is no substantive evidence that
he ever made a remark of this type.

If attempting to trace this adage interests you then please examine
the following webpage:

http://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/06/01/creative/

Here is a sequence of expressions outlining the evolution of the saying:

1926: the height of originality is skill in concealing origins
1933: originality is little more than skill in concealing origins
1938: originality was merely skill in concealing origins
1953: originality has been described as the art of concealing origins
1970: originality is the art of concealing your source
1985: creativity is the art of concealing your sources
1989: the secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources

Evidence of an expression in this family before 1926 would be very
interesting, I think.

Thanks,
Garson

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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