It is clear that the general origin of poetry was due to two causes, each of them part of human nature. Imitation is natural to man from childhood, one of his advantages over the lower animals being this, that he is the most imitative creature in the world, and learns at first by imitation. And it is natural for all to delight in works of imitation.
Aristotle touches on a few important truths about human nature here. First, that we learn by imitation. Second, that we produce works of imitation (we might think of this now as creative output or creativity). And third, that we enjoy and delight in others' imitative efforts.
