Portrait of Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison

Light bulb, phonograph, inventor

Modern influential 89 sayings

Sayings by Thomas Edison

Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge.

Late 19th - early 20th century (approximate) — A humbling and somewhat poetic statement about the limits of human science.
General Unverifiable

Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.

1910 — On ethics and animal welfare
General Unverifiable

I owe my success to the fact that I never had a watch or a clock in my laboratory.

Early 20th Century — Reported in various biographies
General Unverifiable

Anything that won't sell, I don't want to invent.

Early 20th Century — Reflecting his pragmatic approach to invention.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I readily admit that I have been a crank in my life.

Early 20th Century — Interview or personal reflection.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

My main purpose in life is to make money so that I can afford to carry on more experiments.

Late 19th Century — Reported by contemporaries.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.

1931 — Interview with Henry Ford
Work & Money Unverifiable

I am not a scientist. I am an inventor.

Early 20th Century — Distinguishing his role from pure scientific research.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I make more mistakes than anyone I know, and sooner or later, I patent them all.

Late 19th Century — Often cited as an example of his iterative process.
General Unverifiable

There will be more women than men inventors in the future.

Early 20th Century — Interview or public statement.
General Unverifiable

I can hire half of the people in the country to do the thinking for me, but I can't hire people to be enthusiastic.

Early 20th Century — Reported in discussions about his team.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

The first thing is to find out what the world needs; then proceed to invent it.

Late 19th Century — Reflecting his market-driven approach.
General Unverifiable

I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.

Late 19th Century — A variation of his famous quote, often used to emphasize perseverance.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I could always invent something for which there was a demand.

Early 20th Century — Reflecting on his career.
General Unverifiable

What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

Early 20th Century — Often attributed, though sometimes also to Napoleon Hill.
General Unverifiable

I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.

Early 20th Century — Personal reflection.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I am long on ideas, but short on time. I expect to live only to 100.

Early 20th Century — Humorous reflection on his ambition.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I don't think there's any substitute for a good idea.

Early 20th Century — On the importance of innovation.
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.

Late 19th Century — Possibly a personal observation or found in his notebooks.
Work & Money Unverifiable

The world is full of people who are always waiting for someone else to do something about their problems.

Early 20th Century — Reported in various sources.
General Unverifiable
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