--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Invention is nothing more than a fine…" description: "\"Invention is nothing more than a fine deviation from, or enlargement on a fine model . . .\" — Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_deviation_invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-de_208866.jpg" --- # Invention is nothing more than a fine deviation from, or… ![“Invention is nothing more than a fine deviation from, or enlargement on a fine model . . .” quote by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_deviation_invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-de_208866.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_deviation_invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-de_208866.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_deviation_invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-de_208866.jpg) > “Invention is nothing more than a fine deviation from, or enlargement on a fine model . . .” [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creativity involves altering or expanding an existing model to produce something new. **In simple terms:** Innovation tweaks existing designs. Key Takeaway Embrace and to improve. Themes creativity innovation modeling Mood inspired analytical Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - product design - artistic creation - engineering - software development Key Concepts design theory incremental change Questions to Reflect On - When does modification become loss of essence? - How to balance fidelity and novelty? A Different Perspective Excessive deviation can lose the original’s strengths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) ## Related quotes > [It is the melody which is the charm of music, and it is that which is most difficult to produce. 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It can cover foreign policy, relations with the developing world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romano-prodi/foreign-policy-can-mean-several-things-not-only-foreign-policy-in-the/) [Romano Prodi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romano-prodi/) > [The love of God is like himself – equal, constant, not capable of augmentation or diminution; our love is like ourselves – unequal, increasing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/the-love-of-god-is-like-himself-equal-constant-not-capable-of/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [The Cape Town is considerably increased within the last eight years. 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In science, the few must dictate opinion to the many; in literature, the many, sooner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/in-science-address-the-few-in-literature-the-many-in-science-the-few/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Earnest men never think in vain, though their thoughts may be errors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/earnest-men-never-think-in-vain-though-their-thoughts-may-be-errors/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Philosophers have done wisely when they have told us to cultivate our reason rather than our feelings, for reason reconciles us to the daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/philosophers-have-done-wisely-when-they-have-told-us-to-cultivate-our/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [He that fancies himself very enlightened, because he sees the deficiencies of others, may be very ignorant, because he has not studied his own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/he-that-fancies-himself-very-enlightened-because-he-sees-the/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [I did not fall into love - I rose into love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/i-did-not-fall-into-love-i-rose-into-love/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Nothing ages like laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/nothing-ages-like-laziness/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [Each man forms his duty according to his predominant characteristic; the stern require an avenging judge; the gentle, a forgiving father. Just so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/each-man-forms-his-duty-according-to-his-predominant-characteristic/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [What's money without happiness?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/what-s-money-without-happiness/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The more a man desirous to pass at a value above his worth can contrast, by dignified silence, the garrulity of trivial minds, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-more-a-man-desirous-to-pass-at-a-value-above-his-worth-can/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [He who esteems trifles for themselves is a trifler; he who esteems them for the conclusions to be drawn from them, or the advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/he-who-esteems-trifles-for-themselves-is-a-trifler-he-who-esteems/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) > [The strong and virtuous admit no destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/the-strong-and-virtuous-admit-no-destiny/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) [Explore all 337 Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/) ## More Deviation quotes > [Great steps in human progress are made by things that don't work the way philosophy thought they should. If things always worked the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kettering/great-steps-in-human-progress-are-made-by-things-that-don-t-work-the/) [Charles Kettering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kettering/) > [One of the most effective means of seduction that Evil has is the challenge to struggle. It is like the struggle with women, whichends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/one-of-the-most-effective-means-of-seduction-that-evil-has-is-the/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [There's not much room for deviation, yet if you manage to crack it, there then you can express things that actually do sound unique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brown/there-s-not-much-room-for-deviation-yet-if-you-manage-to-crack-it/) [Rob Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brown/) > [I never considered Miles Davis a perfectionist; I always considered him as an excellence-ist, where deviation is actually kind of cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/i-never-considered-miles-davis-a-perfectionist-i-always-considered/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [Temporary deviations from fundamental principles are always more or less dangerous. When the first pretext fails, those who become interested in prolonging the evil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/temporary-deviations-from-fundamental-principles-are-always-more-or/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [To be sane, he held, was either to be sedated by melancholy or activated by hysteria, two responses which were 'always and equally warranted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/to-be-sane-he-held-was-either-to-be-sedated-by-melancholy-or/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [“If you lead me astray, then my wanderings will bring me to my destination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-you-lead-me-astray-then-my-wanderings-will-bring-me-to-my/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Ponder and deliberate before you make your move. He will conquer who has learned the artifice of deviation. Such is the art of maneuvering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/ponder-and-deliberate-before-you-make-your-move-he-will-conquer-who/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [If your broker or investment advisor is not familiar with the concept of standard deviation of returns, get a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-bernstein/if-your-broker-or-investment-advisor-is-not-familiar-with-the-concept/) [William J. Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-bernstein/) > [Sport carries on without deviation the mechanical tradition of furnishing relief and distraction to the worker after he has finished his work proper so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/sport-carries-on-without-deviation-the-mechanical-tradition-of/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [“Transgression affirms the very rules it intends to flout. Nothing supports the norm like deviation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/transgression-affirms-the-very-rules-it-intends-to-flout-nothing/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [Are deviations from full employment a social problem? Obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/are-deviations-from-full-employment-a-social-problem-obviously/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) > [ Those who regarded the revolution, during Imam Khomeini's time, as a deviation, are now \[wielding\] the tools of terror and oppression ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-khatami/those-who-regarded-the-revolution-during-imam-khomeini-s-time-as-a/) [Mohammad Khatami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-khatami/) > [The world is a bell curve. Classroom test scores, employee performance in a company or how many people really, really like you. No matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/the-world-is-a-bell-curve-classroom-test-scores-employee-performance/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) > [Those who talk about individuality the most are the ones who most object to deviation, and in a few years it may be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/those-who-talk-about-individuality-the-most-are-the-ones-who-most/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) Browse all 100 Deviation quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Invention is nothing more than a fine deviation from, or enlargement on a fine model . . .", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-deviation-from-or-enlargement/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deviation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-deviation-from-or-enlargement/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_deviation_invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-de_208866.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_deviation_invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-de_208866.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron_deviation_invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-de_208866.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Invention is nothing more than a fine deviation from, or enlargement on a fine model . . .” — Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Invention is nothing more than a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-deviation-from-or-enlargement/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton-1st-baron-lytton/invention-is-nothing-more-than-a-fine-deviation-from-or-enlargement/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```