--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Initially, the laser was called an…" description: "\"Initially, the laser was called an invention looking for a job.\" — G. Harry Stine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/g-harry-stine-86739_innovation_initially-the-laser-was-called-an-invent_2520088.jpg" --- # Initially, the laser was called an invention looking for a… ![“Initially, the laser was called an invention looking for a job.” quote by G. Harry Stine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/g-harry-stine-86739_innovation_initially-the-laser-was-called-an-invent_2520088.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/g-harry-stine-86739_innovation_initially-the-laser-was-called-an-invent_2520088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/g-harry-stine-86739_innovation_initially-the-laser-was-called-an-invent_2520088.jpg) > “Initially, the laser was called an invention looking for a job.” G. Harry Stine ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The laser was initially seen as a versatile invention awaiting practical application. **In simple terms:** Laser needed a purpose. Key Takeaway Seek practical uses for new tech. Themes technology innovation purpose Mood optimistic curious Type technological inspirational When to use this quote - R&D - product development - technology adoption Key Concepts invention market fit research Questions to Reflect On - What modern tech awaits its purpose? - How can we better match inventions to needs? A Different Perspective Not all inventions find immediate markets. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Lasers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasers/) [Looking for a job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-for-a-job/) ## Related quotes > [I've had some not-great experiences with laser hair removal, probably because I haven't done what they told me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-weiss/i-ve-had-some-not-great-experiences-with-laser-hair-removal-probably/) [Emily Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-weiss/) > [After earning my Ph.D., I stayed at the Max-Planck Institute as a postdoc, working on laser excitation of Rydberg states of triatomic hydrogen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-ketterle/after-earning-my-ph-d-i-stayed-at-the-max-planck-institute-as-a/) [Wolfgang Ketterle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-ketterle/) > [What I have been talking about for many years is opportunity conservatism, that every policy should focus like a laser on easing the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/what-i-have-been-talking-about-for-many-years-is-opportunity/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [If laser beams can cut through mountains, why should we doubt the power of prayer?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/if-laser-beams-can-cut-through-mountains-why-should-we-doubt-the/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [“enable the development of photonic computers using laser light to carry information instead of electric current.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/enable-the-development-of-photonic-computers-using-laser-light-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Mars has been flown by, orbited, smacked into, radar inspected, and rocketed onto, as well as bounced upon, rolled over, shoveled, drilled into, baked,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/mars-has-been-flown-by-orbited-smacked-into-radar-inspected-and/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [Because the high-intensity pulses are short, the laser only damages the area where it's applied. The result is precise, clean cuts that are ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-strickland/because-the-high-intensity-pulses-are-short-the-laser-only-damages/) [Donna Strickland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-strickland/) > [We didn't even think about it, you know? I used to collect laser discs, and you'd have some college professor analyzing It's a Wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/we-didn-t-even-think-about-it-you-know-i-used-to-collect-laser-discs/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [Laser technology has fulfilled our people's ancient dream of a blade so fine that the person it cuts remains standing and alive until he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/laser-technology-has-fulfilled-our-people-s-ancient-dream-of-a-blade/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Shine like the day I set cosmic eyes on you, friend, by the light of the sweet squash in my lovely laser broom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-chicho/shine-like-the-day-i-set-cosmic-eyes-on-you-friend-by-the-light-of/) [Bradley Chicho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-chicho/) > [The main ingredient of the first quantum revolution, wave-particle duality, has led to inventions such as the transistor and the laser that are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-aspect/the-main-ingredient-of-the-first-quantum-revolution-wave-particle/) Alain Aspect > [A lot of people complain in the year 2003 that it's not the world of tomorrow as foreseen in the 1950s. 'Where are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hardwick/a-lot-of-people-complain-in-the-year-2003-that-it-s-not-the-world-of/) [Chris Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hardwick/) > [Being virtually killed by a virtual laser in a virtual space is just as effective as the real thing, because you are as dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/being-virtually-killed-by-a-virtual-laser-in-a-virtual-space-is-just/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [I am always able to keep a laser focus on one thing at a time without getting distracted. It helps that I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-von-ahn/i-am-always-able-to-keep-a-laser-focus-on-one-thing-at-a-time-without/) [Luis von Ahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-von-ahn/) > [Focus like a laser, not a flashlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/focus-like-a-laser-not-a-flashlight/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) ## More by G. Harry Stine > [Market studies suggest space tourism-a rubbernecker's trip to earth orbit-is likely to draw 50,000 passengers a year if the ticket can be pushed below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-harry-stine/market-studies-suggest-space-tourism-a-rubbernecker-s-trip-to-earth/) G. Harry Stine > [Even before the agricultural revolution began in the Fertile Crescent about 10,000 years ago, humans had learned how to work with new technology. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-harry-stine/even-before-the-agricultural-revolution-began-in-the-fertile-crescent/) G. Harry Stine Explore all 3 G. Harry Stine quotes ## More Innovation quotes > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“In the innovation age customer experience is key. Your impression defines their expression”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-durotoye/in-the-innovation-age-customer-experience-is-key-your-impression/) [Fela Durotoye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-durotoye/) > [“Incrementalism never allows innovation to flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/incrementalism-never-allows-innovation-to-flourish/) [Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/) > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [Why is it that, when we want to think outside the proverbial box, we often put ourselves in one? We gather our team in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-best/why-is-it-that-when-we-want-to-think-outside-the-proverbial-box-we/) [Charles Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-best/) > [We have to be innovative, we have to be fresh, we have to be new. People are counting on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-barthel/we-have-to-be-innovative-we-have-to-be-fresh-we-have-to-be-new-people/) [Sarah Barthel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-barthel/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. 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Rees > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Other things being equal, it is the person who can lift his work up to the plane of the intuitional and inspiration who achieves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanwood-cobb/other-things-being-equal-it-is-the-person-who-can-lift-his-work-up-to/) Stanwood Cobb > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Browse all 4,437 Innovation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Initially, the laser was called an invention looking for a job.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "G. 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