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Imitation: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations

Pindarum quisquis studet æmulari, Iule ceratis ope Dædaleâ Nititur pennis, vitreo daturus Nomina ponto. He who studies to imitate the poet Pindar, O Julius, relies on artificial wings fastened on with wax, and is sure to give his name to a glassy sea.— HORACE — Carmina. IV. 2. 1.

Respicere exemplar vitæ morumque jubebo Doctum imitatorem, et veras hinc ducere voces. I would advise him who wishes to imitate well, to look closely into life and manners, and thereby to learn to express them with truth.— HORACE — Ars Poetica. CCCXVII.

Dociles imitandis Turpibus ac pravis omnes sumus. We are all easily taught to imitate what is base and depraved.— JUVENAL — Satira. XIV. 40.

C'est un bétail servile et sot à mon avis Que les imitateurs. Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion.— LA FONTAINE — Clymène. V. 54.

Der Mensch ist ein nachahmendes Geschöpf. Und wer der Vorderste ist, führt die Heerde. An imitative creature is man; whoever is foremost, leads the herd.— SCHILLER — Wallenstein's Tod. III.

4.9. L'imitazione del male supera sempre l'esempio; come per il contrario, l'imitazione del bene è sempre inferiore. He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set; on the contrary, he who imitates what is good always falls short.— GUICCIARDINI — Storia d' Italia.