Adolescence Quote by Nikola Tesla
“Perhaps it is better in this present world of ours that a revolutionary idea or invention instead of being helped and patted, be hampered and ill-treated in its adolescence - by want of means, by selfish interest, pedantry, stupidity and ignorance; that it be attacked and stifled; that it pass through bitter trials and tribulations, through the heartless strife of commercial existence. So do we get our light. So all that was great in the past was ridiculed, condemned, combated, suppressed - only to emerge all the more powerfully, all the more triumphantly from the struggle.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview with Nikola Tesla, 1919
Innovative ideas often face harsh opposition and hardship before achieving success.
In simple terms: Great ideas are initially resisted.
Key Takeaway
Expect and endure resistance.
Themes
innovation
adversity
progress
Mood
determined
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- entrepreneurship
- scientific research
- product development
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
societal resistance
commercial pressure
intellectual property
cultural inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we protect nascent ideas from destructive forces?
- What role does constructive criticism play in refinement?
A Different Perspective
Not all resistance is constructive; it can also stifle valuable ideas.
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