"You might lose your spontaneity and, instead of composing first-rate Gershwin, end up with second rate Ravel"

This quote by Maurice Ravel is a warning to striving composers to not let their imagination be stifled by the expectations of others. He is suggesting that if a composer is too concentrated on attempting to emulate the style of another author, they may lose their own special voice and end up with a lesser version of the initial. Ravel is cautioning against the dangers of replica, and instead motivates authors to find their own design and to be spontaneous in their imaginative procedure. He is recommending that if a composer is too focused on trying to duplicate the style of another composer, they may end up with a lower variation of the original. He is emphasizing the importance of being real to one's own creative vision and not enabling it to be affected by the expectations of others. By doing so, a composer can produce something genuinely unique and of the highest quality.