--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a poster with Thomas Edison's…" description: "\"“ There's a poster with Thomas Edison's quote: GENIUS IS 1 PERCENT INSPIRATION AND 99 PERCENT PERSPIRATION.”\" — Lauren Oliver" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/lauren-oliver-109_inspiration_there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-qu_3194036.png" --- # There's a poster with Thomas Edison's quote: GENIUS IS 1… ![“There's a poster with Thomas Edison's quote: GENIUS IS 1 PERCENT INSPIRATION AND 99 PERCENT PERSPIRATION.” quote by Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/lauren-oliver-109_inspiration_there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-qu_3194036.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/lauren-oliver-109_inspiration_there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-qu_3194036.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/lauren-oliver-109_inspiration_there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-qu_3194036.png) > ““ There's a poster with Thomas Edison's quote: GENIUS IS 1 PERCENT INSPIRATION AND 99 PERCENT PERSPIRATION.”” [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great ideas require a small spark of inspiration but mostly hard work and persistence. **In simple terms:** Success is mostly perspiration, not just inspiration. Key Takeaway Focus on diligent effort to achieve goals. Themes hard work creativity perseverance Mood motivational reflective Type aphilosophical inspirational When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - scientific research - artistic creation Key Concepts innovation effort mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance inspiration with disciplined work? - What habits help you maintain perseverance? A Different Perspective Inspiration alone is insufficient without sustained labor. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) ## Related quotes > [“For too long, the creative world has focused on idea generation at the expense of idea execution. As the legendary inventor Thomas Edison famously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/for-too-long-the-creative-world-has-focused-on-idea-generation-at-the/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [“Genius is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent perspiration.” To make great ideas a reality, we must act, experiment, fail, adapt, and learn on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-k-glei/genius-is-1-percent-inspiration-and-99-percent-perspiration-to-make/) [Jocelyn K. Glei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-k-glei/) > [Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-is-1-percent-inspiration-99-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-and-99-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) > [That adage about genius being 5 percent inspiration and 95 perspiration - it's true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/that-adage-about-genius-being-5-percent-inspiration-and-95/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) > [Persistence isn't very glamorous. If genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration, then as a culture we tend to lionize the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/persistence-isn-t-very-glamorous-if-genius-is-one-percent-inspiration/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-ninety-nine-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“If genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration, then as a culture we tend to lionize the one percent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/if-genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-and-ninety-nine-percent/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-and-ninety-nine-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Writing is 1 percent inspiration, and 99 percent elimination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brooks/writing-is-1-percent-inspiration-and-99-percent-elimination/) [Louise Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brooks/) > [“Photography’s 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent moving furniture.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-heisler/photography-s-1-percent-inspiration-and-99-percent-moving-furniture/) [Gregory Heisler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-heisler/) > [“Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration - said the genius who was 1% showman and 99% fraud.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/genius-is-1-inspiration-and-99-perspiration-said-the-genius-who-was-1/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Fifty percent of Winston is genius, fifty percent bloody fool. He will behave like a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/fifty-percent-of-winston-is-genius-fifty-percent-bloody-fool-he-will/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. As a result, a genius is often a talented person who has simply done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-and-ninety-nine-percent/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [For me genius is '1% inspiration and 99% procrastination.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/for-me-genius-is-1-inspiration-and-99-procrastination/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) ## More by Lauren Oliver > [“My aunt Carol hasn’t heard her say a word in the whole six years and three months of Grace’s life—not a single syllable. Carol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/my-aunt-carol-hasn-t-heard-her-say-a-word-in-the-whole-six-years-and/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [This is what happens when you try to help people. You get screwed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/this-is-what-happens-when-you-try-to-help-people-you-get-screwed/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [We'll walk together holding hands, and kiss in broad daylight, and love each other as much as we want to, and no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-ll-walk-together-holding-hands-and-kiss-in-broad-daylight-and-love/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“At least when I'm sleeping I can dream myself back to Alex, can dream myself into a different world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/at-least-when-i-m-sleeping-i-can-dream-myself-back-to-alex-can-dream/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [People are like ants: Just a few of them give all the orders. And most of them spend their lives getting squashed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/people-are-like-ants-just-a-few-of-them-give-all-the-orders-and-most/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Summer explodes into Portland. In early June the heat was there but not the color--the green were still pale and tentative, the morning had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/summer-explodes-into-portland-in-early-june-the-heat-was-there-but/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Mistake, mistake, mistake. A strange word: stinging, somehow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/mistake-mistake-mistake-a-strange-word-stinging-somehow/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I wonder if it's ever really possible to know the truth about someone else, or if the best we can do is just stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wonder-if-it-s-ever-really-possible-to-know-the-truth-about-someone/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Julian is somewhere among those lights, in that blur of people and buildings. I wonder whether he's scared. I wonder whether he's thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/julian-is-somewhere-among-those-lights-in-that-blur-of-people-and/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [A room full of words that are nearly the truth but not quite, each note fluttering off the steam of its rose like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/a-room-full-of-words-that-are-nearly-the-truth-but-not-quite-each/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“She’s the kind of person who makes you feel drunk just by being around her, like suddenly the world’s edges are dulled and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/she-s-the-kind-of-person-who-makes-you-feel-drunk-just-by-being/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Stop!” His voice rings out sharply, hard as a slap. He releases me and I stumble backward. “Alex is dead, do you hear me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/stop-his-voice-rings-out-sharply-hard-as-a-slap-he-releases-me-and-i/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [..in that moment i realize how much i love the little everyday routines of my life..the details that are my life's special pattern, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/in-that-moment-i-realize-how-much-i-love-the-little-everyday-routines/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“You can't judge a book by its steel-toed combat boots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/you-can-t-judge-a-book-by-its-steel-toed-combat-boots/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) [Explore all 1,181 Lauren Oliver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) ## More Inspiration quotes > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“Success is for a man whose stories of sruggles and chalenges are inspirations to and up coming generation..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sanaba-c/success-is-for-a-man-whose-stories-of-sruggles-and-chalenges-are/) Nelly sanaba .c > [Loving you is the best feeling have ever had, and you loving me is the greater gift I have..I will be brave, I wont…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fash/loving-you-is-the-best-feeling-have-ever-had-and-you-loving-me-is-the/) Fash > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I have learned that you can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do and buy all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/i-have-learned-that-you-can-go-anywhere-you-want-to-go-and-do/) [C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/) > [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [“Complete - Yourself! Others may only enhance your completeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lashauna-d-hinton/complete-yourself-others-may-only-enhance-your-completeness/) Lashauna D. Hinton [Browse all 17,129 Inspiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“ There's a poster with Thomas Edison's quote: GENIUS IS 1 PERCENT INSPIRATION AND 99 PERCENT PERSPIRATION.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lauren Oliver" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-quote-genius-is-1-percent/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspiration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-quote-genius-is-1-percent/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/lauren-oliver-109_inspiration_there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-qu_3194036.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/lauren-oliver-109_inspiration_there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-qu_3194036.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c1/lauren-oliver-109_inspiration_there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-qu_3194036.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There's a poster with Thomas Edison's quote: GENIUS IS 1 PERCENT INSPIRATION AND 99 PERCENT PERSPIRATION.” — Lauren Oliver", "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": "Lauren Oliver", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“ There's a poster with Thomas...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-quote-genius-is-1-percent/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/there-s-a-poster-with-thomas-edison-s-quote-genius-is-1-percent/#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 } } ] } ```