Henry Rollins Quotes

I've always been noted for being original and doing different thing. So for me to hop on the train that's going on would be - shoot, if I wanted to hop on the train, I might as well have hopped on gangsta rap back when it was popular and tried to do that.

No one ever became great by imitation.

You can't be all of the people you're influenced by, so you make your own filter and create your own beautiful, unique thing in the world. Soak up the world, man, and make something of your own.

Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.

You borrow from the greats, and you make your own path without losing the core of who you are.

I always try to do something nobody else has done.

All you need is your own imagination. So use it that's what it's for.

It is better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation. He who has never failed somewhere, that man can not be great. Failure is the true test of greatness.

Imitation is for shirkers, like-minded-ness for the comfort lovers, unifying for the creators.

As for me, the only stuff I've ever had success with is when I'm trying to be completely original and not thinking about mirroring what else is out there.

Write it as it is, don't try to make it like this or that. You can't do it in anybody else's way-you will have to make a way of your own.

It's hard work to find your own voice and not to copycat anything.

We all have idols. Play like anyone you care about but try to be yourself while you're doing so.

No man was ever great by imitation.

The only thing I really recommend, if you're starting out in stand-up is to not try to copy anybody else. You can be influenced by people. I was influenced by Steve Martin and Bob Newhart and Woody Allen, but I never tried to be someone else. I always tried to be myself. And the reason people are successful is they're unique.

Originality is the one thing which unoriginal minds cannot feel the use of.

I don't want ever to be guilty of what my critics claim: doing formula without original elements.

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

There are no original ideas. There are only original people.

Don't just rehash what came before. Find new things to do with it, in your unique voice.

I love to be creative.

Well, so far, at least, my own ideas always take priority over those of other writers. As long as the well doesn't run dry, I imagine this will be the case.

I'm constantly trying to be as original as I can.

Tradition is the great misleader because it's too easy to follow what has already been done - even though you may think you're giving it a kick. I was really trying to invent, instead of merely expressing myself.

My goal is to be myself, and to challenge stereotypes, and to follow the rules, and break them, and make new rules. It's not about doing something that's already been done. That would be silly.