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The fact is that originality (unless in minds of very unusual force) is by no means a matter, as some suppose, of impulse or intuition. In general, to be found, it must be elaborately sought, and although a positive merit of the highest class, demands in its attainment less of invention than negation.

— Edgar Allan Poe The Philosophy of Composition (1846)

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Creativity

More quotes by Edgar Allan Poe

The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?

The Premature Burial (1844)

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.

The Raven (1844)

Years of love have been forgot
In the hatred of a minute.

A dark unfathom'd tide
Of interminable pride —
A mystery, and a dream,
Should my early life seem.

They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.

Eleonora (1841)

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Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.

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Enjoyment of the work consists in participation in the creative state of the artist.

Martin Heidegger Nietzsche (1961)

No decision in business provides greater potential for the creation of wealth (or its destruction, come to think of it) than the choice of which innovation to back.

Robert Heller The Decision makers (1989)

Originality consists in thinking for yourself, not in thinking differently from other people.

James Fitzjames Stephen Liberty, Equality, Fraternity (1873)

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Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Edgar Allan Poe (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.