From wall text at an exhibit currently on view at the Architectural Heritage Center in Portland, Oregon:
there is not much good that is not in some way based on something old that is good
The sentiment serves sample-based composers and remixers.
The full context of the quote is: “All my training has been in offices doing classical things, with a strong leaning toward the Greek…and I believe…there is not much good that is not in some way based on something old that is good.” The attribution is architect A.E. Doyle (1877 – 1928). The exhibit is “Terra Cotta Portland,” which opened on March 29, 2008. More information at visitahc.org.