The Secret to Creativity—Steal

Introduction

Whenever we think of art or creativity, the word “originality” often comes to mind. From school art projects to professional endeavors, originality is frequently held up as the gold standard.

While copying someone else’s work and claiming it as your own is plagiarism, the truth is that nothing is truly original.

As Salvador Dalí once said, “Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.” Every idea, every piece of art, and every creative work is inspired by something that came before it.

These inspirations form a vast genealogy of ideas, each building on the last.

Nothing is Original

Look at the great artists, writers, and musicians throughout history. Leopold Mozart inspired his son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, to become one of the greatest composers of all time.

Picasso drew inspiration from African art and the works of Cézanne and Rousseau. J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings was influenced by Old English literature like Beowulf, and Stephen King’s The Stand owes much to Tolkien’s epic.

Pablo Picasso famously said, “Good artists borrow, great artists steal.” The key is not to avoid inspiration but to embrace it.

Every idea we have is shaped by the people, experiences, and works that have influenced us. There’s no shame in drawing from this genealogy of ideas—it’s natural and essential to the creative process.

You, too, can become part of someone else’s genealogy of ideas. Whether it’s an article you write, a photo you post, or a project you create, your work can inspire others in ways you might never imagine.

Creativity is a cycle, and by contributing to it, you keep that cycle alive.

So, don’t pressure yourself to invent something entirely new. Whether you’re painting, sculpting, writing, or designing, remember: Nothing is original. Everything is a remix.

The Fine Line: Copying vs. Emulating

While drawing inspiration is essential, there’s a fine line between copying and emulating.

Copying is a lazy attempt to replicate someone else’s work, while emulating involves taking inspiration and transforming it into something new and unrecognizable.

Take The Lion King, for example. At its core, it’s a kid-friendly version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Both stories feature a fatherless prince, a scheming uncle who murders his brother to seize the throne, and a dramatic climax where the uncle meets his end.

The co-directors of The Lion King even admitted that the story closely mirrored Hamlet.

Yet, The Lion King is far from a cheap copy. It transformed the themes and relationships of Hamlet into something entirely unique and iconic.

As filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard put it, “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.”

When you “steal” ideas, do so in a transformative way. Combine elements from your genealogy of ideas, experiment with them, and create something that feels wholly your own.

Conclusion

There are no unique messages, only unique messengers. Creativity isn’t about inventing something entirely new; it’s about how you reinterpret, remix, and build upon what already exists.

The secret to staying creative is to embrace being unoriginal while fearlessly experimenting and adding your own twist. By doing so, you contribute to the ever-growing genealogy of ideas, creating something that feels fresh and original—even if its roots are deeply intertwined with the past.

So, the next time you sit down to create, remember: Don’t strive to be original. Strive to be transformative.