“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.”

The moment I read this the first thing that struck me was a the mindset of such a person. I feel that this quote has a lot to do with the legacy of those who pursue these two paths. Let me explain...

I think the person who keeps failing at trying to do something original will one day find his target. That one work that would be his masterpiece. But it won't stop there. A lifetime spent in pursuit of originality will inspire originality in this world even if this person fails at his masterpiece.

Then their is the other side. The person succeeding in imitation is highly likely to pursue that path for a lifetime. Imitations are rarely inspiring and usually forgotten in the light of original.