Mark Twain on Plagiarism

According to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary "plagiarize" is defined as:
: to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source

As a nonfiction writer the subject of plagiarism must be at front of my mind at all times when working on an assignment. It's also something I like to discuss with the children at my school visits. And maybe because it is at in the front of my mind I've discussed it on a regular basis with my own daughters when seeing them work on essays or research papers for school. I discussed it again with my older daughter as she left for college and now my younger daughter will be reminded again as well.

So, when I came across this article about Mark Twain and a letter he wrote to his friend Helen Keller regarding an incident of plagiarism that she was accused of, I found Mr. Twain's take on plagiarism, creativity, and originality very interesting, no less something that I could relate to. Imagine that! Something I could envision myself and Mr. Twain discussing over a cold drink after a softball game.


"I totally agree with you Mr. Twain."

I enjoy the fact that something written so many years ago can still resonate with writers, like myself, today. Thank you Mr. Twain for your wisdom and insight on the subject of plagiarism.