Karl Benz
A German engine designer and automobile engineer, generally regarded as the inventor of the gasoline-powered automobile.
Most quoted
"I had to create the world from scratch. I had to create the engine, the chassis, the steering, the brakes, the clutch, the transmission, the radiator, the fuel tank, the carburetor, the ignition, the spark plugs, the tires, the body, the seats, the lights, the horn, the speedometer, the odometer, the fuel gauge, the oil gauge, the water temperature gauge, the battery, the generator, the starter, the the the..."
— from Interview, 1886
"I have often been asked why I did not patent the automobile. My answer is simple: I did not invent the wheel, nor the engine, nor the chassis. I merely put them together in a way that had not been done before. To patent the whole would be like patenting a sandwich."
— from Attributed
"The greatest challenge was not building the car, but convincing people they needed one. They were perfectly content with their horses, bless their dusty souls."
— from Attributed
All quotes by Karl Benz (401)
The world will be transformed by the motorcar.
Every problem has a solution, if you are determined enough to find it.
I did not invent the wheel, but I put an engine on it.
The future of transportation lies in individual freedom, not in mass transit.
To innovate, one must be willing to take risks and face skepticism.
I believe in the power of engineering to change the world for the better.
The greatest challenge is not building the machine, but convincing people of its utility.
We are just beginning to understand the potential of the motor vehicle.
The noise and smoke are temporary inconveniences for a greater good.
My goal was to create a reliable and practical means of transport.
The world will never be the same after the advent of the automobile.
It is not enough to invent; one must also develop and refine.
The freedom of movement offered by the automobile will change society.
I was driven by a desire to overcome the limitations of existing transport.
There will be a time when every family owns a motorcar.
The greatest reward is seeing my invention benefit mankind.
I have always believed in the power of individual ingenuity.
The challenges were immense, but the vision was clearer.
The automobile will connect people and places in ways never before imagined.
My work is a testament to the human spirit of invention.
Contemporaries of Karl Benz
Other Engineerings born within 50 years of Karl Benz (1844–1929).