--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The invention that most people know me…" description: "\"The invention that most people know me for is the Super Soaker water gun. I knew the gun worked well, and I knew it would be successful. I did not real..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/lonnie-johnson-16185_gun_the-invention-that-most-people-know-me-f_316383.jpg" --- # The invention that most people know me for is the Super… ![“The invention that most people know me for is the Super Soaker water gun. I knew the gun worked well, and I knew it would be successful. I did not realize how successful it would be.” quote by Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/lonnie-johnson-16185_gun_the-invention-that-most-people-know-me-f_316383.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/lonnie-johnson-16185_gun_the-invention-that-most-people-know-me-f_316383.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e6/lonnie-johnson-16185_gun_the-invention-that-most-people-know-me-f_316383.jpg) > “The invention that most people know me for is the Super Soaker water gun. I knew the gun worked well, and I knew it would be successful. I did not realize how successful it would be.” [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He created a popular water gun without foreseeing its massive success, illustrating that unexpected outcomes can arise from simple ideas. **In simple terms:** Simple inventions can become wildly successful unexpectedly. Key Takeaway Stay open to unexpected market reactions. Themes innovation unexpected success simplicity entrepreneurship product design Mood optimistic curious Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - product launch - marketing strategy - consumer behavior - business planning Key Concepts water toys market dynamics creative problem solving Questions to Reflect On - What simple ideas could you develop further? - How do you test market potential? A Different Perspective Assuming success without testing can lead to missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [It was because of the success of the Super Soaker, I was able to at least get an audience with people to present some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/it-was-because-of-the-success-of-the-super-soaker-i-was-able-to-at/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [When I was at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory back in the early '80s is when I first got the idea. The Super Soaker was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/when-i-was-at-the-jet-propulsion-laboratory-back-in-the-early-80s-is/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I gotta handle my business, I pay my mortgages first. When you cross a super-soaker I bet your water get burst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/i-gotta-handle-my-business-i-pay-my-mortgages-first-when-you-cross-a/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [“I threw my Super Soaker in back and hopped in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-ware/i-threw-my-super-soaker-in-back-and-hopped-in/) [M.J. Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-ware/) > [Silver nitrate and water in a super soaker," he told her. "My own invention. Ought to be good at twenty feet, kind of like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/silver-nitrate-and-water-in-a-super-soaker-he-told-her-my-own/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [The lack of imagination or invention most people display in naming pussies is almost beyond credence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-van-vechten/the-lack-of-imagination-or-invention-most-people-display-in-naming/) [Carl Van Vechten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-van-vechten/) > [I thought to myself, jeez, it would be really nice to have a high power water gun. It felt really, really good holding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-thought-to-myself-jeez-it-would-be-really-nice-to-have-a-high-power/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [In the modern world we have invented ways of speeding up invention, and people's lives change so fast that a person is born into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/in-the-modern-world-we-have-invented-ways-of-speeding-up-invention/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [“The Internet is an excellent invention for people with nothing better to do, and people with something better to do who nonetheless don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-sledz/the-internet-is-an-excellent-invention-for-people-with-nothing-better/) Amanda Sledz > [I think that various styles and methods and approaches are an invention of people who don't understand the process of acting and who try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/i-think-that-various-styles-and-methods-and-approaches-are-an/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [When watering your plants, try to talk to them - say something like, Hold it right there and then shoot them with water gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/when-watering-your-plants-try-to-talk-to-them-say-something-like-hold/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [I arm myself with punch lines and a big old water gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/i-arm-myself-with-punch-lines-and-a-big-old-water-gun/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [My parents would have to put the fire hose on me to get me out of bed, to go to school in the morning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-rathbone/my-parents-would-have-to-put-the-fire-hose-on-me-to-get-me-out-of-bed/) [Jackson Rathbone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-rathbone/) > [I have a BB gun and a water gun in case things get hectic. I wouldnt put it past Kanye to run up on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-have-a-bb-gun-and-a-water-gun-in-case-things-get-hectic-i-wouldnt/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [Whenever I'm bored, I go to a bank, yell FREEZE! and spray people with my water gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/whenever-i-m-bored-i-go-to-a-bank-yell-freeze-and-spray-people-with/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) ## More by Lonnie Johnson > [More and more, other countries are able to manufacture things cheaper, beating us in the marketplace in a lot of ways. So we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/more-and-more-other-countries-are-able-to-manufacture-things-cheaper/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Lady Luck is indifferent. She smiles sometimes, and she frowns sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/lady-luck-is-indifferent-she-smiles-sometimes-and-she-frowns-sometimes/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [It was because of the success of the Super Soaker, I was able to at least get an audience with people to present some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/it-was-because-of-the-success-of-the-super-soaker-i-was-able-to-at/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Large companies can afford to file patents on every idea they have. Small companies, we have to weigh our options, do the research. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/large-companies-can-afford-to-file-patents-on-every-idea-they-have/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I have a collection of SuperSoakers. I have managed to keep most of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-have-a-collection-of-supersoakers-i-have-managed-to-keep-most-of/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I can remember times when we'd be having parties, and people would be dancing and everything and I would be sitting there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-can-remember-times-when-we-d-be-having-parties-and-people-would-be/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Being an independent inventor is tough. You develop a product, patent it, then you're looking for someone who will see the benefit from this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/being-an-independent-inventor-is-tough-you-develop-a-product-patent/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I didn't want to grow old and find that I didn't do what I could have done, that I didn't put my best foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-didn-t-want-to-grow-old-and-find-that-i-didn-t-do-what-i-could-have/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I consider myself a general practitioner. I do electronic things. I do toys and water things, mechanical stuff. I'm very, very flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-consider-myself-a-general-practitioner-i-do-electronic-things-i-do/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Peer review is fine, as long as you're making incremental improvements to a technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/peer-review-is-fine-as-long-as-you-re-making-incremental-improvements/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I decided I could develop a toy and get some revenue from that and then use that revenue to really become an inventor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-decided-i-could-develop-a-toy-and-get-some-revenue-from-that-and/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I wound up getting offered a job at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory where I invented a power supply mechanism for the Galileo space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-wound-up-getting-offered-a-job-at-the-nasa-jet-propulsion/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I've invented a new type of engine that converts heat directly into electricity with no moving mechanical parts. It's called the Johnson Thermo-Electrochemical Converter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-ve-invented-a-new-type-of-engine-that-converts-heat-directly-into/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Especially when you have a lot of technology you're developing as a small company, trying to protect that technology is a real problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/especially-when-you-have-a-lot-of-technology-you-re-developing-as-a/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I love playing around with ideas and turning them into something useful or fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-love-playing-around-with-ideas-and-turning-them-into-something/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) [Explore all 40 Lonnie Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) ## More Gun quotes > [When you reach that competing point, when you reach that time when the gun is about to go off, everyone's level is pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/when-you-reach-that-competing-point-when-you-reach-that-time-when-the/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [I'm OK with guns in schools, if it's a security, trained security personnel. But every teacher having a gun, I don't know if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/i-m-ok-with-guns-in-schools-if-it-s-a-security-trained-security/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [For Christmas one year I bought my son a BB gun. He bought me a t-shirt with a bulls eye on the back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/for-christmas-one-year-i-bought-my-son-a-bb-gun-he-bought-me-a-t/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [In France they spend six months training policemen, then they give them a gun and put them on the streets, and I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-kassovitz/in-france-they-spend-six-months-training-policemen-then-they-give/) [Mathieu Kassovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-kassovitz/) > [In Bosnia, little children shot in the head by a guy who thinks it's okay to aim his gun at a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christiane-amanpour/in-bosnia-little-children-shot-in-the-head-by-a-guy-who-thinks-it-s/) [Christiane Amanpour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christiane-amanpour/) > [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Gun control laws don't work. What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/) Daniel D. Polsby > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Only a coward will use a gun to protect and get respect for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-jal/only-a-coward-will-use-a-gun-to-protect-and-get-respect-for-themselves/) [Emmanuel Jal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-jal/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [We have no butter... but I ask you, would you rather have butter or guns? Preparedness makes us powerful. Butter merely makes us fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-goring/we-have-no-butter-but-i-ask-you-would-you-rather-have-butter-or-guns/) [Hermann Goring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-goring/) > [When personal freedom's being abused, you have to move to limit it. That's what we did in the announcement I made last weekend on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/when-personal-freedom-s-being-abused-you-have-to-move-to-limit-it/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) [Browse all 3,584 Gun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The invention that most people know me for is the Super Soaker water gun. I knew the gun worked well, and I knew it would be successful. 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