41 quotes
American inventor and businessman (1847–1931)
“Anything that won't sell, I don't want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.”
"It is astonishing what an effort it seems to be for many people to put their brains definitely and systematically to work."
on Wisdom
"Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure."
on Motivation
"I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun."
on Work
"When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this - you haven't."
on Perseverance
"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
"There is time for everything."
on Time
"The best thinking has been done in solitude. The worst has been done in turmoil."
"There's a way to do it better - find it."
on Innovation
"The three great essentials to achieve anything worth while are: Hard work, Stick-to-itiveness, and Common sense."
on Success
"What you are will show in what you do."
on Character
"Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won't work."
"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
"To have a great idea, have a lot of them."
on Creativity
"Great ideas originate in the muscles."
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
on Inspirational
"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."
"I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success."
"The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense."
"If we all did the things we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."
