Thomas Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman, who has been described as America’s greatest inventor. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed “The Wizard of Menlo Park”, he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large-scale teamwork to the process of invention, and because of that, he is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.
Edison was a prolific inventor, holding 1,093 US patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. More significant than the number of Edison’s patents was the widespread impact of his inventions: electric light and power utilities, sound recording, and motion pictures all established major new industries worldwide. Edison’s inventions contributed to mass communication and, in particular, telecommunications. These included a stock ticker, a mechanical vote recorder, a battery for an electric car, electrical power, recorded music and motion pictures. His advanced work in these fields was an outgrowth of his early career as a telegraph operator. Edison developed a system of electric-power generation and distribution[5] to homes, businesses, and factories – a crucial development in the modern industrialized world. His first power station was on Pearl Street in Manhattan, New York. Wikipedia
Thomas Edison
Being busy does not always mean real work. Seeming to do is not doing.
I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.
I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favour of the kings of the world.
I have not failed. I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.
I never failed once. It just happened to be a 2000-step process.
If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.
Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
There ain’t no rules around here! We’re trying to accomplish something.
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.