Available Quote by Charles Kettering
“You are always too late with a development if you are so slow that people demand it before you yourself recognize it. The research department should have foreseen what was necessary and had it ready to a point where people never knew they wanted it until it was made available to them.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: National Academy of Engineering, 1947
Innovation must anticipate needs before users realize them; lagging behind leads to missed opportunities.
In simple terms: Create products before customers know they need them.
Key Takeaway
Invest in forward‑looking R&D.
Themes
innovation
anticipation
market timing
Mood
cautious
strategic
Type
analysis
forecasting
When to use this quote
- research labs
- product design
- strategic planning
- market analysis
Key Concepts
technology foresight
product development
consumer behavior
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you test future demand without over‑investing?
- What signals indicate an emerging need?
A Different Perspective
Predicting demand is uncertain; resources may be wasted on unwanted features.
