I came across these thoughts while I was reading about the Iraq- Iran war which led both countries to destruction with no gain at all. Nd Iraq was under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein later on some secrets of Saddam was revealed after his death that how he use to follow the steps of  Stalin or we can say that Saddam was influenced by him. 

" We generally connect inspiration as an emotion which helps in making the mindset and influence as a thought or an idea which we get by observing. We take both of them from external factors (Movies, shows, articles, artwork  etc.) 

But if we think about it and pay attention we get to know that inspiration is something that comes from within while we are looking at certain things and get to know the meaning it's portraying, we use this word in a very positive manner whereas influence is considered neutrally. Because influence can work in both way, it can be positive and negative too. But these both terms need observation, a fine observation to know every detail of a specific thing and how will you imply that.

An inspired person would think (observe) and see the good and bad, they will shape the world and take it in a good direction. Whereas an influenced person will try to replicate or will try to obey someone, it gives the vision and under influence, the person could anything even if it creates misery in the world."

 Saddam Hussein, convicted of crimes against humanity including willful killing, illegal imprisonment, deportation, and torture. Under influence, but that influence was by his own conscious choice.

But if lead this to a conclusion what would be the best words to say that these two may seem the same at a specific point, or it may have same going through because they both consist observation, knowing about that specific, its background, how it portrays his thoughts and elements ( if it's an artwork of something external), both need close observation and then analysis too. But in the end both works in different ways like, a small inspiration can lead to a great masterpiece or an idea of doing something that can also be an alternative way of portraying the same (inspiration) but it can be much good than the original one because that's a possibility too. And on the other hand, an influence is a big deal in itself, it works in changing the way someone thinks or it can be a lifestyle also and this leads us to believe that this is what we are the new us, but in actual by that specific (influence) we tend to believe such things and most of the time neglect to think what's good for us under that specific influence. 

“I wrote it because I felt these points need everyone's attention too because we use and imply both of these in our day to day life, so isn't it necessary to look at them in this way also..? Share your thoughts if  this makes sense to you or even if you don't agree with my points”