Available Quote by B. C. Forbes
“Thomas Edison reads not for entertainment but to increase his store of knowledge. He sucks in information as eagerly as the bee sucks honey from flowers. The whole world, so to speak, pours its wisdom into his mind. He regards it as a criminal waste of time to go through the slow and painful ordeal of ascertaining things for one's self if these same things have already been ascertained and made available by others. In Edison's mind knowledge is power.”
About This Quote
Edison consumed knowledge voraciously, seeing it as essential power and avoiding redundant effort.
In simple terms: Reading fuels power; avoid re‑learning.
Key Takeaway
Seek knowledge efficiently, build on existing insights.
Themes
learning
efficiency
knowledge power
innovation
Mood
curious
determined
Type
educational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research
- education
- inventor mindset
- personal development
Key Concepts
information gathering
intellectual humility
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you verify the value of information?
- What sources provide the most actionable insights?
A Different Perspective
Risk of passive consumption without critical thinking.
![“If he [Thomas Edison] had a needle to find in a haystack, he would not stop to reason where it was most likely to be, but would proceed at once with the feverish diligence of a bee, to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search. ... [J]ust a little theory and calculation…” quote by Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a00/nikola-tesla-1383_bees_if-he-thomas-edison-had-a-needle-to-find_97217.jpg)
