Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed “The Wizard of Menlo Park”, he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large-scale teamwork to the process of invention, and because of that, he is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.
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Genius is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration.
—Thomas Edison
I failed my way to success.
—Thomas Edison
I have not failed.
I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
—Thomas Edison
Nearly every man who develops an idea works at it up to the point where it looks impossible, and then gets discouraged. That’s not the place to become discouraged.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Perseverance, Ideas, Persistence, Virtues
Time is really the only capital that any human being has,
and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.
—Thomas Edison
It is remarkable to what lengths people will go to avoid thought.
—Thomas Edison
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize
how close they were to success when they gave up.
—Thomas Edison
Show me a completely contented person and I’ll show you a failure.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Failure
There ain’t no rules around here.
We’re trying to accomplish something.
There’s a way to do it better ? find it.
—Thomas Edison
Restlessness is discontent – and discontent is the first necessity of progress.
—Thomas Edison
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Opportunity
Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Accomplishment, Action
The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.
—Thomas Edison
The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Thinking, Solitude
Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.
—Thomas Edison
If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
—Thomas Edison
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
—Thomas Edison
As a cure for worrying, work is better than whiskey.
—Thomas Edison
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