Sam J. Jones Quotes

My style is all to myself.

Music should not be a contest, it should be an individual thing that each band is putting out from within themselves.

I didn't want to feel like I was mimicking or copying someone else's performance, whether it's subconscious or not.

I'm not even sure I have a style! All I know for sure is I don't want to look like everyone else.

I've never really tried to copy anyone; I like to have my own style.

If you copy then it is not self-expression.

When I teach writing, I have a mantra: 'Be a first-rate version of yourself, and not a second-rate version of another writer.'

I think it's important to have your own individual style and sense of self. It's kind of what I do.

I couldn't imitate anyone if I wanted to.

A musician should only sound like what they do, and no two musicians sound the same. It's an individual-feel thing, you know?

The fact that I have been successful merely means that I can write and illustrate in my own way.

I never tried to sing like anybody else, fortunately I didn't sound like anybody else. It just happened.

The best thing an actor can bring to a role is himself - that's no secret.

I was a pretty good imitator of Roy Acuff, but then I found out they already had a Roy Acuff, so I started singin' like myself.

People said when I started, 'Why don't you just copy your father's style?' I had to be myself, singing my songs in my own way.

I like to create something that's unique and kind of true to myself and authentic and everything. I don't really like to mirror myself after different artists.

My attitude with covers is, make it your own or else leave it alone.

In terms of my actual acting, I don't really like to to copy anyone or replicate anything that I've seen.

You can't just copy someone. There are so many different styles that you can just kind of pick and choose whatever it is you'd like to do.

I think it's really important to make things your own in your voice. I started when I was 23, and in the beginning of my career, there was this expectation of a young designer being edgier, cooler, more downtown. But I was never that person.

Be yourself. It's the most important part of anything that you do. It's not fashion. It can be whatever you want to do.

Don't worry about your originality. You couldn't get rid of it even if you wanted to. It will stick with you and show up for better or worse in spite of all you or anyone else can do.

I only do what I do. For me, it is a craft. It's got to be my own thing - otherwise, I would never be successful. I could easily go to the archives and pull 1987 or 1991 collection by Calvin Klein. But when you look in there, you realize that it was never about one piece. It was about the collections as bodies of work.

Finally and most important of all, authenticity means that you must do what you do the way you do it and allow everyone else the same courtesy. There was a time I wanted to be like every famous writer that ever lived. I tried to copy styles, reframe information, use similar artwork. I almost drove myself crazy! Now I just do what I do. I have mentors. There are people whose work I admire, but I write the way I write. I eat the way I eat. I dress the way I dress. I can't believe that God made us each so unique only to have us do everything the same way.

My style is unique and it's my own. I do not try to copy or imitate anybody.