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 reliance on coal for power is unsustainable. We need alternatives.
My engine will democratize power, making it accessible to all, not just the wealthy.
The established order will resist my ideas, but truth will prevail.
The steam engine is a monument to inefficiency, a testament to wasted energy.
I believe in the power of pure reason and scientific principles to overcome any engineering challenge.
The world is ready for a truly revolutionary engine, not just an improved one.
My engine will not only be more efficient but also safer than existing power sources.
The idea that an engine must rely on a spark for ignition is a limitation, not a necessity.
I am not afraid to fail, for failure is often the path to discovery.
The potential of my engine to transform agriculture and industry is immense.
Many engineers are too focused on what is, rather than what could be.
The future of transportation lies in engines that are powerful yet economical.
My engine will be a testament to the power of human ingenuity.
The existing patents for internal combustion engines are flawed and inefficient.
I envision a world where every small workshop and farm has its own independent power source.
My engine will be a silent revolution.
The idea of using cheap, readily available fuels is central to my design.
I am not content with merely improving existing designs; I seek to invent anew.
The world is on the cusp of a new industrial age, powered by my engine.
The established manufacturers will eventually have to adapt or be left behind.
Contemporaries of Rudolf Diesel
Other Engineerings born within 50 years of Rudolf Diesel (1858–1913).