Alexander Graham Bell

The day will come when the man in the street will be able to talk to his friend in another city, and even across the ocean, as easily as he now talks to him across the room.

Letter to his father 1876

I have been called a 'dreamer.' I am a dreamer. I dream of things that are not, and ask 'why not?'

Unknown

The telephone is an instrument of the devil, for it takes away the privacy of the home and makes it possible for anyone to intrude upon one's thoughts.

Attributed, but likely apocryphal or misattributed

The great advantage of the telephone is that it is not a toy, but a useful instrument.

Statement to the press 1876

The inventor looks upon the world and is not contented with things as they are. He wants to improve them, he wants to change them, he wants to make them better.

Unknown

The public will never use it for general communication.

British Post Office official's assessment of the telephone (often misattributed to Bell, but reflects early debate) 1876

I have always been interested in the education of the deaf, and I believe that the telephone will be of great assistance to them.

Statement to the press 1876

The telephone is not a toy, but a useful instrument, and it will be used by everyone.

Statement to the press 1876

The telephone is an instrument of peace, for it will bring people closer together.

Unknown

The telephone is a great invention, but it will never be used for long-distance communication.