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)
Do not be afraid to challenge the status quo.
The world needs more engineers and fewer critics.
I built the first automobile not for profit, but for the advancement of technology.
The future of travel is on the road, not on rails.
The horseless carriage is not a fad; it is the future.
I have dedicated my life to making the impossible possible.
The greatest inventions are often met with the greatest resistance.
The automobile will bring prosperity and progress to nations.
My greatest satisfaction comes from knowing I have contributed to human progress.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single engine.
The world is ready for a revolution in personal transport.
I am an engineer, and my language is invention.
I have finally succeeded in constructing a vehicle which, as I believe, will be of service in many ways.
The automobile will become an indispensable part of human life.
I had to fight for every screw, every idea.
My first customer was a lunatic. My second had a death wish.
The importance of the internal combustion engine is not that it replaces the horse, but that it creates entirely new possibilities.
A reliable ignition system is the soul of the motor car.
I am not a businessman. I am an inventor and an engineer.
The desire for mobility is innate in mankind.
Contemporaries of Karl Benz
Other Engineerings born within 50 years of Karl Benz (1844–1929).