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 engine is the heart of the automobile.
I built the first car, but Bertha drove it into history.
The future is not something we wait for; it is something we create.
Every problem has a solution; you just have to find it.
The world is constantly evolving, and so must our inventions.
I never sought fame, only the satisfaction of creation.
The automobile is more than just a machine; it is a symbol of human ingenuity.
Patience and perseverance are the keys to success in engineering.
My life has been a journey of discovery and invention.
The greatest challenge is to make the impossible possible.
The roar of the engine is music to my ears.
I am a dreamer, but also a doer.
The automobile will bring people closer together.
Failure is not the end; it is a stepping stone to success.
My legacy is not just the car, but the spirit of innovation it represents.
The world is always in need of new ideas.
The smell of gasoline is the smell of progress.
I built a machine, but Bertha built a movement.
The future is driven by those who dare to dream.
Every bolt, every gear, every component matters.
Contemporaries of Karl Benz
Other Engineerings born within 50 years of Karl Benz (1844–1929).