Thomas Edison
One of the main reasons people are not rich is that they worry too much about things that might never happen. quotes
The United States, and other advanced nations, will someday be able to produce instruments of death so terrible the world will be in abject terror of itself and its ability to end civilization... . Such war-making weapons should be developed - but only for purposes of discovery and experimentation
I believe that the science of chemistry alone almost proves the existence of an intelligent creator.
If parents pass enthusiasm along to their children, they will leave them an estate of incalculable value.
Someday, man will harness the rise and fall of the tides, imprison the power of the sun, and release atomic power.
Just because something does n't do what you planned it to do in the first place doesn't mean it's useless.
A good idea is never lost. Even though its originator or possessor may die, it will someday be reborn in the mind of another.
Time is really the only capital that any human being has and the thing that he can least afford to waste or lose.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Great music and art are earthly wonders, but I think 'cubist' songs and paintings are hideous.
Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge.
I am not overly impressed by the great names and reputations of those who might be trying to beat me to an invention... . Its their 'ideas' that appeal to me.
The memory of my mother will always be a blessing to me.
Pretty much everything will come to him who hustles while he waits. I believe that restlessness is discontent, and discontent is merely the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.
Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. Accordingly, a 'genius' is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.
The thing I lose patience with the most is the clock. Its hands move too fast.
Its obvious that we don't know one millionth of one percent about anything.
The dove is my emblem... . I want to save and advance human life, not destroy it... . I am proud of the fact that I never invented weapons to kill.
Sometimes, all you need to invent something is a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and noises which the ordinary person does not hear.
Whatever the mind of man creates, should be controlled by man's character.
I never did anything worth doing entirely by accident... . Almost none of my inventions came about totally by accident. They were achieved by having trained myself to endure and tolerate hard work.
Many of life's failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
The dove is my emblem. I want to save and advance human life, not destroy it. I am proud of the fact that I never invented weapons to kill.
As a cure for worrying, work is far better than whiskey. I always found that, if I began to worry, the best thing I could do was focus upon doing something useful and then work very hard at it. Soon, I would forget what was troubling me.
Our schools and are not teaching students to think. It is astonishing how many young people have difficulty in putting their brains definitely and systematically to work.
I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.
The first requisite for success is to develop the ability to focus and apply your mental and physical energies to the problem at hand - without growing weary. Because such thinking is often difficult, there seems to be no limit to which some people will go to avoid the effort and labor that is associated with it.
The three things that are most essential to achievement are common sense, hard work and stick-to-it-iv-ness.
My principal business is giving commercial value to the brilliant - but misdirected - ideas of others.
The only time I really become discouraged is when I think of all the things I would like to do and the little time I have in which to do them.
Life's most soothing things are a child's goodnight and sweet music.
Barring serious accidents, if you are not preoccupied with worry and you work hard, you can look forward to a reasonably lengthy existence. Its not the hard work that kills, its the worrying that kills.
I am quite correctly described as 'more of a sponge than an inventor'.
To me, the idea and expectation that the day is slowly and surely coming when we will be able to honestly say we are our brother's keeper and not his oppressor is very beautiful.
I am both pleased but astonished by the fact that mankind has not yet begun to use all the means and devices that are available for destruction. I hope that such weapons are never manufactured in quantity.
I love great music and art, but I think 'cubist' songs and paintings are hideous.
If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.
Besides the short catnaps I take each day, I average about four to five hours of sleep per night.
Surprises and reverses can serve as an incentive for great accomplishment. There are no rules here, we're just trying to accomplish something.
Results ? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results ! If I find ways something won't work, I haven't failed
From his neck down a man is worth a couple of dollars a day, from his neck up he is worth anything that his brain can produce.
Most of the exercise I get is from standing and walking around laboratory tables all day. I derive more benefit and entertainment from this than some of my friends and competitors get from playing games like golf.
I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others. I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent.
We have merely scratched the surface of the store of knowledge which will come to us. I believe that we are now, a-tremble on the verge of vast discoveries - discoveries so wondrously important they will upset the present trend of human thought and start it along completely new lines.
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human body, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.
My main purpose in life is to make money so I can afford to go on creating more inventions.
I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
There is time for everything.
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration
If we all did the things we are capable of doing we would literally astound ourselves.
There is no substitute for hard work.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work
Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.