Thomas Edison

There is far more opportunity than there is ability.

We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything.

I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.

The thing I lose patience with the most is the clock. Its hands move too fast.

If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.

The first requisite for success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.

There will one day spring from the brain of science a machine or force so fearful in its potentialities, so absolutely terrifying, that even man, the fighter, who will dare torture and death in order to inflict torture and death, will be appalled, and so abandon war forever.

I never want to see a thing that I have made. I have no pride in any of my inventions. I'm always thinking of the future.

Maturity is often more absurd than youth and very frequently is most unjust to youth.

The phonograph... is of no commercial value.

Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.

The man who doesn't make up his mind to cultivate the habit of thinking misses the greatest pleasure in life.

I am long on ideas, but short on time. I expect to live to be only about a hundred.

There's a better way to do it. Find it.

The only time I really become discouraged is when I think of all the things I would like to do and the little time I have in which to do them.

I never allow myself to become discouraged under any circumstances.

Nearly every man who develops an idea works it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then he gets discouraged. That's not the place to become discouraged.

The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it goes around wearing overalls and looks like work.

I have more respect for the fellow with a single idea who gets there than for the fellow with a thousand ideas who does nothing.

I never pick up an item without thinking of how I might improve it.