Thomas Alva Edison (1847–1931) was America’s greatest inventor. His innovations contributed to the formation of many new industries.
Born in Milan, Ohio, Edison was homeschooled by his mother after he had been expelled from school as “retarded,” possibly because of his deafness. By age 15, he was employed as a telegraph operator, where he developed an interest in electricity and its applications.
Edison’s chief inventions include the telegraph, phonograph, mimeograph, carbon microphone for telephones, carbon filament lamp, nickel-iron accumulator, and improvements to the electricity distribution system.
Edison’s famous laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, transformed invention into a broader process of innovation and laid the foundation of modern industrial research.
By the time of his death, Edison patented more than 1,093 inventions. Most of his companies merged into Edison General Electric in 1889 and later formed the General Electric Company in 1892.
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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
Genius is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration.
—Thomas Edison
Genius is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Creativity
The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.
—Thomas Edison
The value of an idea lies in the using of it.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Ideas
I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Work
Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Patience, Wisdom, Resilience
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
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
I failed my way to success.
—Thomas Edison
If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Doing, Ability, Confidence, Possibilities, Potential
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: Action, Accomplishment
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Opportunities, Luck, Opportunity, Hard Work, Work
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: Persistence, Ideas, Virtues, Perseverance
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: Thoughts, Thinking, Thought
Religion is all bunk.
—Thomas Edison
I am proud of the fact that I never invented weapons to kill.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Invention
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
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
—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: Failure, Difficulties, Progress, Discontent, Satisfaction, Adversity
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
To have a great idea, have a lot of them.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Ideas
The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Solitude, Thinking
As a cure for worrying, work is better than whiskey.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Worry, Managing Worries
Show me a completely contented person and I’ll show you a failure.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Failure
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