I've always interpreted the quote as meaning that good artists are able to recognize worthy work and imitate it, while great artists take that work and make it their own, improve upon and personalize it.
The Macintosh team "stole" the GUI from PARC, insomuch as they turned an academic experiment into a user-friendly, commercially viable product with its own refined sensibility and personality.
Samsung was a good enough artist to recognize that the iPhone was worth copying slavishly (albeit poorly), but they never turned their imitation into a distinct work unto itself.
Can you tell the difference between a Samsung Galaxy S5 and and iPhone 5? If yes, then why isn't the Galaxy series a distinct work with its own sensibility and personality?
I love their travels through the literature to find out who may of originated a quote. That the first published instance was 1892 (which Picasso was just 11) suggests that the conceptual quote was already out there.
I've always wondered though how Steve internalized that thought. One less charitable interpretation was that he felt that 'greater artists' had more right to a concept than lesser artists because they could do more with it. The literature has certainly portrayed him as very protective of ideas that he has championed, without regard to the idea's origin.
This is certainly a well researched one. And seeing so many versions throughout the history, does make me think, if some is going to change it again :).
Well Steve Jobs introduced fonts to computer. Something that he stole from the hands of specialized calligraphers and enabled everyone to produce great content.
It's interesting how these quote with no clear attribution can take a life of their own. It's like the quote attributed to Burke that "all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." You see that quote referenced everywhere, and it is a great quote, but it doesn't appear in any of Burke's writings.
I always knew the "talent borrows, genius steals" version and it being attributed to Oscar Wilde. While I couldn't find any concrete evidence online to him having said that, I still like this version the best.
IMHO, it doesn't matter how the quote was created.
What matters is Mr. Jobs said the quote. He said artists both copy and steal. He did not say 'create'. Can we agree on this?
And following may be common knowledge on HN but let me just bring them up for the benefit of those who may not know.
1. Remember the $350 bonus Mr. Jobs did not give to Steve Wozniak, which was rightfully Wozniak's. This bonus was profit from their very first join venture, designing board for Atari.
2. And before there was the Apple Inc. the Computer company, there was Apple Corps Ltd, of the Beatles fame. The name of 'Apple' in Apple Inc (the computer maker) was 'copied' without authorization from the Apple Corps Ltd (of the Beatles). There were multiple litigations between them over the name.
I really hate to bring these up with Mr. Jobs gone but let's not forget these things happened. He was a great figure no doubt.
[+] [-] webwielder|11 years ago|reply
The Macintosh team "stole" the GUI from PARC, insomuch as they turned an academic experiment into a user-friendly, commercially viable product with its own refined sensibility and personality.
Samsung was a good enough artist to recognize that the iPhone was worth copying slavishly (albeit poorly), but they never turned their imitation into a distinct work unto itself.
[+] [-] Curmudgel|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ChuckMcM|11 years ago|reply
I've always wondered though how Steve internalized that thought. One less charitable interpretation was that he felt that 'greater artists' had more right to a concept than lesser artists because they could do more with it. The literature has certainly portrayed him as very protective of ideas that he has championed, without regard to the idea's origin.
[+] [-] kumarishan|11 years ago|reply
Well Steve Jobs introduced fonts to computer. Something that he stole from the hands of specialized calligraphers and enabled everyone to produce great content.
[+] [-] abruzzi|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] stephengillie|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TezzellEnt|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] apu|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bdevine|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pbhjpbhj|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] UntitledNo4|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] read|11 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dba7dba|11 years ago|reply
What matters is Mr. Jobs said the quote. He said artists both copy and steal. He did not say 'create'. Can we agree on this?
And following may be common knowledge on HN but let me just bring them up for the benefit of those who may not know.
1. Remember the $350 bonus Mr. Jobs did not give to Steve Wozniak, which was rightfully Wozniak's. This bonus was profit from their very first join venture, designing board for Atari.
2. And before there was the Apple Inc. the Computer company, there was Apple Corps Ltd, of the Beatles fame. The name of 'Apple' in Apple Inc (the computer maker) was 'copied' without authorization from the Apple Corps Ltd (of the Beatles). There were multiple litigations between them over the name.
I really hate to bring these up with Mr. Jobs gone but let's not forget these things happened. He was a great figure no doubt.