It's been said that "Talent borrows, but genius steals." (I don't >know exactly who said this.) What do you think this means, and do you have an opinion on it?

I have no idea but my motto is steal shamlessley as long as no one gets hurt and it is not copyrighted.

Sinclair Hetherington

The distinction is between immitating something you've seen or heard, and making something new and astounding which alludes to or incorporates the preexisting material. The version I'd heard was "Immature poets immitate; mature poets steal." This aphorism, alas, has been stolen by lots of famous people, so I'm not sure where it originated.

The difference between plagiarism and homage is art.