When we think of Thomas Edison, we not only think of one of America’s greatest inventors and businessmen but also think of some words of inspiration from him. Here are top 20 famous quotes credited to this American genius that still hold true today.
“The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.”
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to try just one more time.”
“I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.”
“There will one day spring from the brain of science a machine or force so fearful in its potentialities, so absolutely terrifying, that even man, the fighter, who will dare torture and death in order to inflict torture and death, will be appalled, and so abandon war forever.”
“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.”
“I am not overly impressed by the great names and reputations of those who might be trying to beat me to an invention…. It’s their ‘ideas’ that appeal to me. I am quite correctly described as ‘more of a sponge than an inventor.”
“The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”
“Failure is really a matter of conceit. People don’t work hard because, in their conceit, they imagine they’ll succeed without ever making an effort. Most people believe that they’ll wake up some day and find themselves rich. Actually, they’ve got it half right, because eventually they do wake up.”
“The three great essentials to achieve anything worth while are: Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common sense.”
“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
“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.”
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
“I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident.”
“Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.”
“We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature’s inexhaustible sources of energy–sun, wind and tide. I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.”
“The thing I lose patience with the most is the clock. Its hands move too fast.”
“There is always a better way.”
“Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.”
“Time is really the only capital that any human being has and the thing that he can least afford to waste or lose.”
Related articles:
Top 20 Great Albert Einstein Quotes
Top 20 Inspirational Abraham Lincoln Quotes
Most Inspiring Steve Jobs Quotes
I have been working as a doctor of a general hospital since February 1998. In addition, I am a full time writer and specialize in weight loss related issues. I also write for a number of different websites on the Internet.