René Girard's Mimetic Theory Quotes

“the modern rejection of imitation does not mean that human beings escape mimesis in any way; in fact, this “rejection” is a product of already intensified mimetic desire. Since the modern world is characterized by the dominion of internal mimesis—in which imitable role models transform into obstacles worthy of hatred—imitation merely lurks in the underground, where its hegemony is even more absolute. The enemy brothers of internal mimesis adamantly reject imitation and are resolute about their difference from one another; what they miss, however, is that their need to differ only increases their identicalness, as they become more exact mirror reflections of one another.”
― Wolfgang Palaver, René Girard's Mimetic Theory