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)
I built the first car not for fame, but for the joy of creation.
Precision in engineering is the poetry of mechanics.
Life is a journey; make sure your engine is tuned.
The spark of genius ignites the cylinder of progress.
No obstacle is too great when fueled by determination.
Invention is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration in the garage.
The automobile liberates the soul from the harness of tradition.
Engineers build bridges between dreams and reality.
I regret nothing; each breakdown taught me resilience.
Speed is not the goal; safe passage is.
The workshop is my cathedral, tools my prayers.
Humor in engineering: when the piston sticks, laugh and lubricate.
Progress drives forward, never in reverse.
The first engine coughed like a newborn; now it roars like a lion.
Wisdom lies in understanding the machine within the man.
My legacy is not patents, but the paths we all travel.
Innovation thrives in solitude and collaboration alike.
Life's fuel is curiosity; without it, we stall.
The car is a faithful steed, tamed by human will.
In politics of progress, the vote is for velocity.
Contemporaries of Karl Benz
Other Engineerings born within 50 years of Karl Benz (1844–1929).