Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931)

Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices in fields such as electric power generation, sound recording, and motion pictures. These inventions, which include the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and early versions of the electric light bulb, have had a widespread impact on the modern industrialized world. He was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of organized science and teamwork to the process of invention, working with many researchers and employees. He established the first industrial research laboratory.

Quotes

I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious idea of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God.
Many of life's failures are those who didn't know how close they were to success when they gave up.
If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will educate his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.
A genius is just a talented person who does his homework.
I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun.
Remember, nothing that's good works by itself, just to please you. You have to make the damn thing work.
Faith, as well intentioned as it may be, must be built on facts, not fiction--faith in fiction is a damnable false hope.
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.
I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident
As a cure for worrying, work is better than whisky.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Opportunity
Hell, there are no rules here-- we're trying to accomplish something.

Rules
Results! Why, man, I have gotten a lot of results. I know several thousand things that won't work.
Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.

Genius, Inspiration, Work
Hell, there are no rules here--we're trying to accomplish something.
Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.
All Bibles are man-made.
Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration.

Genius, Inspiration, Work
Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless.

Miscellaneous, Planning