Plagiarism
At one point in the episode, Sam says, "Good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal from them outright." The quotation is slightly ironic, in a sense, because it is itself a paraphrase from T.S. Eliot, who wrote, "Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal."
The reference to plagiarism in this episode of West Wing–originally aired in 2002–proved prophetic when, on May 6, 2006, NBC Sports aired a special program before the Kentucky Derby that plagiarized two passages from the speech that Sam writes for the President following the explosion of the pipe bombs in "20 Hours in America, Part II".
Specifically the West Wing line "every time we think we've measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless" was used nearly verbatim on the special. Another linked pair of West Wing lines, "ran into the fire to help get people out." (dramatic pause) "Ran into the fire.", was used nearly verbatim, complete with the dramatic pause. The freelance writer responsible for this content in the Kentucky Derby special was fired.
Read more about this topic: 20 Hours In America
Famous quotes containing the word plagiarism:
“Mr. Fitzgerald—I believe that is how he spells his name—seems to believe that plagiarism begins at home.”
—Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–1948)
“Ideas improve. The meaning of words participates in the improvement. Plagiarism is necessary. Progress implies it. It embraces an author’s phrase, makes use of his expressions, erases a false idea, and replaces it with the right idea.”
—Guy Debord (b. 1931)