Rudolf Diesel
A German inventor and mechanical engineer, famous for the invention of the diesel engine.
Most quoted
"The use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today. But such oils may become in the course of time as important as petroleum and the coal tar products of the present time."
— from Speech, 1912
"The internal combustion engine, in its present form, is a very inefficient machine. My aim is to create an engine that converts a much larger percentage of the fuel's energy into useful work."
— from Patent application for the Diesel engine, 1892
"My engine is designed to work with vegetable and seed oils, special fuel oils, and is therefore particularly adapted to the production of power in case of the interruption of the coal supply."
— from Exhibition Statement, 1900
All quotes by Rudolf Diesel (413)
The future of transportation will be powered by the Diesel engine.
I have always believed in the potential of my invention.
The Diesel engine is a robust and reliable machine.
Innovation is the key to progress.
The Diesel engine is a practical solution to real-world problems.
My work is a legacy for future generations.
The Diesel engine is a symbol of German engineering excellence.
The potential applications of the Diesel engine are limitless.
I have always strived for perfection in my designs.
My engine does not run on good intentions, but on fuel. A distinction many politicians fail to grasp.
They say necessity is the mother of invention. In my case, it was more like the exasperated father of inefficiency.
Some engineers build bridges. I build engines that burn bridges, metaphorically speaking, of course.
The steam engine is a fine beast, but it drinks like a sailor and sweats like a pig. My engine, I assure you, is far more refined.
To invent, one must be willing to be misunderstood, and occasionally, to be called a madman. It's all part of the charm.
My greatest fear is not failure, but success that is so complete, it leaves no room for further improvement. How dull that would be!
They say I'm a visionary. I say I'm just a man who got tired of shoveling coal.
The difference between a good engineer and a bad one? The good one knows when to stop tinkering. The bad one just keeps adding more gears.
I've been accused of being a perfectionist. I prefer to think of it as a healthy aversion to things that explode unexpectedly.
Some people dream of flying. I dream of engines that don't break down at the most inconvenient moments. More practical, you see.
My engine is a testament to the fact that sometimes, the most elegant solution is also the most brutal.
Contemporaries of Rudolf Diesel
Other Engineerings born within 50 years of Rudolf Diesel (1858–1913).