Was Ellen White a plagiarist?
Ellen White often made use of literary sources in communicating her messages. In the Introduction to one of her most popular books she wrote:”In some cases where a historian has so grouped together events as to afford, in brief, a comprehensive view of the subject, or has summarized details in a convenient manner, his words have been quoted; but in some instances no specific credit has been given, since the quotations are not given for the purpose of citing that writer as authority, but because his statement affords a ready and forcible presentation of the subject. In narrating the experience and views of those carrying forward the work of reform in our own time, similar use has been made of their published works” (The Great Controversy, p. xii).Ellen White’s use of other authors was not limited to historical or geographical material, but included other subject areas as well.
