Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Thomas Edison (American Inventor)

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.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Thomas Edison

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.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Ethics, Peace

Genius is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Creativity, Inspiration

Genius is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration.
—Thomas Edison

There’s a way to do better… find it.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Miscellaneous, Excellence

Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.
—Thomas Edison

It is very beautiful over there.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Life

I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
—Thomas Edison

I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Misfortune, Work

Anything that won’t sell, I don’t want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Invention

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, Miscellaneous, Progress, Adversity, Satisfaction, Discontent, Difficulties

I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Work

To my mind the old masters are not art; their value is in their scarcity.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Value

Vision without execution is hallucination.
—Thomas Edison

They say President Wilson has blundered. Perhaps he has, but I notice he usually blunders forward.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Failures, Failure, Mistakes

The successful person makes a habit of doing what the failing person doesn’t like to do.
—Thomas Edison

The first requisite of success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem without growing weary.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Action, Focus, Win, Success

My message to you is: Be courageous! I have lived a long time. I have seen history repeat itself again and again. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has come out stronger and more prosperous. Be as brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Courage to Begin, Courage, Bravery

There is time for everything.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Effectiveness

Religion is all bunk.
—Thomas Edison

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Work, Hard Work, Opportunity, Luck, Opportunities

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, Virtues, Perseverance, Ideas

Many of life’s failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.
—Thomas Edison

If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Possibilities, Ability, Confidence, Doing, Potential

Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so called scientific knowledge.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Gardening

We don’t know a millionth of 1 percent about anything.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Wisdom

The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Thinking, Solitude

There is no substitute for hard work.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Work, Hard Work

What man’s mind can create, man’s character can control.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Self-Control, Control

Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Wisdom, Patience, Resilience

I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
—Thomas Edison
Topics: Determination, War, Courage, Cause, Age, Failure

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