--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it…" description: "\"We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight.\" — Milton Berle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/milton-berle-3246_candlelight_we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn_836350.png" --- # We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd… ![“We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight.” quote by Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/milton-berle-3246_candlelight_we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn_836350.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/milton-berle-3246_candlelight_we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn_836350.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/milton-berle-3246_candlelight_we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn_836350.png) > “We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight.” [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Edison’s inventions made modern entertainment possible, otherwise we’d have primitive viewing. **In simple terms:** Edison enabled modern TV. Key Takeaway Appreciate technological foundations. Themes technology progress gratitude Mood humorous appreciative Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - television development - historical education - public speaking Key Concepts history of media innovation Questions to Reflect On - What inventions paved the way for TV? - How does gratitude shape our view of progress? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex tech history. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candlelight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candlelight/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Watching television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watching-television/) ## Related quotes > [If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be watching television by candlelight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-weren-t-for-electricity-we-d-all-be-watching-television-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If it were not for Thomas Edison, we would all be watching television in the dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-were-not-for-thomas-edison-we-would-all-be-watching-television/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-boliska/do-you-realize-if-it-weren-t-for-edison-we-d-be-watching-tv-by/) Al Boliska > [If Thomas Edison invented electric light today, Dan Rather would report it on CBS News as, 'Candle-making industry threatened'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/if-thomas-edison-invented-electric-light-today-dan-rather-would/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [My principal professional objective is to introduce intelligence as the ubiquitous utility. I'd like to be the Thomas Edison of intelligence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-j-saylor/my-principal-professional-objective-is-to-introduce-intelligence-as/) [Michael J. Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-j-saylor/) > [I'm one of those people that think Thomas Edison and the light bulb changed the world more than Karl Marx ever did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-m-one-of-those-people-that-think-thomas-edison-and-the-light-bulb/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Thomas Edison dreamed of a lamp that could be operated by electricity, began where he stood to put his dream into action, and despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/thomas-edison-dreamed-of-a-lamp-that-could-be-operated-by-electricity/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Thomas Edisons Mother: Of course Im proud that you invented the electric light bulb. Now turn it off and get to bed!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/thomas-edisons-mother-of-course-im-proud-that-you-invented-the/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Thomas Edison had great visions (for lights, music players, movies, etc.) but he knew they didn't count until he could make them work. His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/thomas-edison-had-great-visions-for-lights-music-players-movies-etc/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [“My first hero was Thomas Edison, whose adult life had consisted entirely of free time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/my-first-hero-was-thomas-edison-whose-adult-life-had-consisted/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Yes, my grandfather worked with Thomas Edison on the electric car, and he sold electric cars at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jardine/yes-my-grandfather-worked-with-thomas-edison-on-the-electric-car-and/) [Al Jardine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jardine/) > [When Edison first started out with his "crazy" idea for the light bulb, skeptics were unmoved. They called Thomas Edison a con man and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-rottenberg/when-edison-first-started-out-with-his-crazy-idea-for-the-light-bulb/) [Linda Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-rottenberg/) > [“I have not failed,” said Thomas Edison. “I’ve just found ten thousand ways that won’t work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-moore/i-have-not-failed-said-thomas-edison-i-ve-just-found-ten-thousand/) Margaret Moore > [ If he \[Thomas Edison\] had a needle to find in a haystack, he would not stop to reason where it was most likely to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/if-he-thomas-edison-had-a-needle-to-find-in-a-haystack-he-would-not/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [Without doubt, Thomas Edison is my greatest contemporary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/without-doubt-thomas-edison-is-my-greatest-contemporary/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) ## More by Milton Berle > [A man falls down a flight of stairs and somebody rushes over to him and asks, Did you miss a step? No, he answers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/a-man-falls-down-a-flight-of-stairs-and-somebody-rushes-over-to-him/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [Anytime a person goes into a delicatessen and orders a pastrami on white bread, somewhere a Jew dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/anytime-a-person-goes-into-a-delicatessen-and-orders-a-pastrami-on/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [Like every comedian, if I heard a joke that I thought would work, I used it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/like-every-comedian-if-i-heard-a-joke-that-i-thought-would-work-i/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [My sister-in-law found a real surprise in her stockings - my brother.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/my-sister-in-law-found-a-real-surprise-in-her-stockings-my-brother/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [When I was in school, one of my teachers was crazy about me. I once heard her tell another teacher, "I wish he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/when-i-was-in-school-one-of-my-teachers-was-crazy-about-me-i-once/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [I'd rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/i-d-rather-be-a-could-be-if-i-cannot-be-an-are-because-a-could-be-is/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [Every year my boss used to give me a bottle of expensive brandy because I'd told him that my doctor suggested a drink once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/every-year-my-boss-used-to-give-me-a-bottle-of-expensive-brandy/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [The problem with life is, by the time you can read women like a book, your library card has expired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/the-problem-with-life-is-by-the-time-you-can-read-women-like-a-book/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [If you hire relatives, you'll have a payroll that won't quit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/if-you-hire-relatives-you-ll-have-a-payroll-that-won-t-quit/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [It's amazing how fast later comes when you buy now!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/it-s-amazing-how-fast-later-comes-when-you-buy-now/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [I don't mind personal insults, but when you insult the jokes that I tell you're insulting Fred Allen, Bob Hope, Burns and Allen, Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/i-don-t-mind-personal-insults-but-when-you-insult-the-jokes-that-i/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [I like to think of myself as the middleman between Fred Allen and Henny Youngman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-the-middleman-between-fred-allen-and/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [What an orchestra! They just sit there, but their minds are thousands of miles away with their bookies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/what-an-orchestra-they-just-sit-there-but-their-minds-are-thousands/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [My son gave me a nice bottle of cologne - Eau de Owe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/my-son-gave-me-a-nice-bottle-of-cologne-eau-de-owe/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) > [I was in a department store and I saw a weird-looking gadget. I asked the young saleslady what it was. She answered, "It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/i-was-in-a-department-store-and-i-saw-a-weird-looking-gadget-i-asked/) [Milton Berle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) [Explore all 135 Milton Berle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/) ## More Candlelight quotes > [“Just before six, Bee pulled three wineglasses out of the cabinet and uncorked the bottle of white that Greg had selected for us. "Light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-jio/just-before-six-bee-pulled-three-wineglasses-out-of-the-cabinet-and/) [Sarah Jio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-jio/) > [If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-i-lose-the-light-of-the-sun-i-will-write-by-candlelight-moonlight/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [I lived by the candlelight for two years because I couldn't afford power. It was nice and romantic at the time, but if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-renner/i-lived-by-the-candlelight-for-two-years-because-i-couldn-t-afford/) [Jeremy Renner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-renner/) > [“When his flock thronged into the midnight service, there was wonder on every face at the newly hung greens and the softly flickering candles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/when-his-flock-thronged-into-the-midnight-service-there-was-wonder-on/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“If you immediately know the candlelight is fire, then the meal was cooked a long time ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oma-desala/if-you-immediately-know-the-candlelight-is-fire-then-the-meal-was/) Oma Desala > [Mircea must have heard us come in, but he continued what he was doing. He stood with his back to us, the candlelight on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/mircea-must-have-heard-us-come-in-but-he-continued-what-he-was-doing/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [Ever since we crawled out of that primordial slime, that's been our unifying cry, 'More light.' Sunlight. Torchlight. Candlelight. Neon, incandescent lights that banish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-frolov/ever-since-we-crawled-out-of-that-primordial-slime-that-s-been-our/) [Diane Frolov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-frolov/) > [If it weren't for electricity, we'd all be watching television by candlelight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-it-weren-t-for-electricity-we-d-all-be-watching-television-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Work a great deal at evening effects, lamplight, candlelight, etc. The intriguing thing is not to show the source of the light but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-degas/work-a-great-deal-at-evening-effects-lamplight-candlelight-etc-the/) [Edgar Degas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-degas/) > [Be gentle with me, new love. Treat me tenderly. I need the gentle touch, the soft voice, the candlelight after nine. There's been so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-mckuen/be-gentle-with-me-new-love-treat-me-tenderly-i-need-the-gentle-touch/) [Rod McKuen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-mckuen/) > [“Suddenly he fell asleep in the candlelight. After a while I got up to look at his face. He slept like everybody else. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-ferdinand-celine/suddenly-he-fell-asleep-in-the-candlelight-after-a-while-i-got-up-to/) [Louis-Ferdinand Céline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-ferdinand-celine/) > [Too strong of a light can be deadly to the one used to read by candlelight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-fulger/too-strong-of-a-light-can-be-deadly-to-the-one-used-to-read-by/) [Mariana Fulger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-fulger/) > [Funny you mention my dinner parties when I have just suggested that inviting close friends over to share a meal with candlelight and wine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-quinn/funny-you-mention-my-dinner-parties-when-i-have-just-suggested-that/) [Sally Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-quinn/) > [“You should regard each meeting with a friend as a sitting he is unwillingly giving you for a portrait - a portrait that, probably,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-mirrlees/you-should-regard-each-meeting-with-a-friend-as-a-sitting-he-is/) [Hope Mirrlees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-mirrlees/) > [“He was mine, and I'd be damned if I was going to let some other woman have him. I would shove the candlelight up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/he-was-mine-and-i-d-be-damned-if-i-was-going-to-let-some-other-woman/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) [Browse all 73 Candlelight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candlelight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milton Berle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn-t-for-him-we-d-be-watching/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Candlelight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn-t-for-him-we-d-be-watching/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/milton-berle-3246_candlelight_we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn_836350.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/milton-berle-3246_candlelight_we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn_836350.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/448/milton-berle-3246_candlelight_we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn_836350.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight.” — Milton Berle", "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": "Milton Berle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-berle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We owe a lot to Thomas...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn-t-for-him-we-d-be-watching/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-berle/we-owe-a-lot-to-thomas-edison-if-it-wasn-t-for-him-we-d-be-watching/#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 } } ] } ```