"Well, in comedy, tragedy, drama, whom ought one to follow?"
"In the first place, you should never imitate anybody; you should study: the man who follows a guide is obliged to walk behind. Will you be content to walk behind?"
"No."
"Then you must study. Do not attempt to produce either comedy, or tragedy, or drama; take passions, events, characters, smelt them all down in the furnace of your imagination, and raise statues of Corinthian bronze."
"What is Corinthian bronze?"
"Don't you know?"
"I know nothing."
"What a happy state to be in!"
"Why?"