Quotes by Thomas A. Edison

I told [John Kruesi] I was going to record talking, and then have the machine talk back. He thought it absurd. However, it was finished, the foil was put on; I then shouted Mary had a little lamb, etc. I adjusted the reproducer, and the machine reproduced it perfectly.[On first words spoken on a phonograph.]

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.

Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.

Restlessness is discontent — and discontent is the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man — and I will show you a failure.

Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.

Restlessness is discontent and discontent is the first necessity of progress.

I am long on ideas but short on time. I expect to live only about a hundred years.

Be courageous! ... 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.

Results? Why man I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that wont work.

They say President Wilson has blundered. Perhaps he has but I notice he usually blunders forward.

Results! Why man I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that wont work.

Many of lifes failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

There is time for everything.

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

As a cure for worrying work is better than whiskey.

Just because something doesnt do what you planned it to do doesnt mean its useless.

Hell, there are no rules here - were trying to accomplish something.

Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward!

If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.

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.