The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.
—Thomas Edison
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
—Thomas Edison
The value of an idea lies in the using of it.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Ideas
I failed my way to success.
—Thomas Edison
Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Progress, Difficulties, Adversity, Discontent, Satisfaction, Failure
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
The first requisite for success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Ability
Genius is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration.
—Thomas Edison
It is astonishing what an effort it seems to be for many people to put their brains definitely and systematically to work.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Thinking, Thoughts, Thought
Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Resilience, Patience, Wisdom
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
Waste is worse than loss. The time is coming when every person who lays claim to ability will keep the question of waste before him constantly. The scope of thrift is limitless.
—Thomas Edison
I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Work
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Luck, Opportunities, Opportunity, Hard Work, Work
Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.
—Thomas Edison
Genius is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Creativity
As a cure for worrying, work is better than whiskey.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Managing Worries, Worry
The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Solitude, Thinking
It is remarkable to what lengths people will go to avoid thought.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Thought
Many of life’s failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
—Thomas Edison
Religion is all bunk.
—Thomas Edison
If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Doing, Confidence, Possibilities, Potential, Ability
To have a great idea, have a lot of them.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Ideas
I am proud of the fact that I never invented weapons to kill.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Invention
Show me a completely contented person and I’ll show you a failure.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Failure
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
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Charles F. Kettering American Inventor
Alexander Graham Bell Scottish-born American Inventor
Robert H. Goddard American Inventor
Soichiro Honda Japanese Inventor
Friedrich Koenig German Inventor
Pierre Beaumarchais French Inventor
Walt Disney American Entrepreneur
George Washington Carver American Scientist
An Wang Chinese-born American Engineer
Benjamin Franklin American Founding Father, Inventor