"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it"
- C. S. Lewis
About this Quote
This quote by C. S. Lewis speaks with the concept that creativity is not something that can be forced or achieved through mindful effort. Instead, it is something that is attained through a genuine effort to tell the truth. Lewis recommends that if one focuses on being sincere, rather than on being original, then originality will come naturally. He suggests that if one is too focused on being original, they will never accomplish it. This is because they will be too busy trying to come up with something new, instead of just telling the reality. This quote encourages us to focus on being truthful and authentic, instead of attempting to be something that we are not. It is a tip that creativity is something that originates from within, which it can not be forced.