--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The invention of the telephone was also…" description: "\"“The invention of the telephone was also dismissed at first. Sir William Preece, the chief engineer of the British Post Office famously declared, \"The ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nir-eyal-1258_technology_the-invention-of-the-telephone-was-also_2614427.jpg" --- # The invention of the telephone was also dismissed at… ![“The invention of the telephone was also dismissed at first. Sir William Preece, the chief engineer of the British Post Office famously declared, "The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys."[cxxxv] In 1911, Ferdinand Foch the future Commander-in-Chief…” quote by Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nir-eyal-1258_technology_the-invention-of-the-telephone-was-also_2614427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nir-eyal-1258_technology_the-invention-of-the-telephone-was-also_2614427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f5/nir-eyal-1258_technology_the-invention-of-the-telephone-was-also_2614427.jpg) > ““The invention of the telephone was also dismissed at first. Sir William Preece, the chief engineer of the British Post Office famously declared, "The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys."\[cxxxv\] In 1911, Ferdinand Foch the future Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies in WWI said, "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value.”” [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. New technologies often face skepticism; early critics may dismiss innovations that later become pivotal. **In simple terms:** Innovations are often doubted at first. Key Takeaway Stay open to unconventional ideas. Themes innovation skepticism history technology adoption Mood cautious optimistic Type historical predictive When to use this quote - product development - strategic planning - risk assessment Key Concepts paradigm shifts future forecasting Questions to Reflect On - What current tech might be undervalued today? - How can we better evaluate emerging ideas? A Different Perspective Dismissal can delay beneficial adoption. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [“. . .they were assisted by the new technological invention of the telephone (that enemy of reflection, which became increasingly accepted as as means of communication) . . .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gordon-lauren/they-were-assisted-by-the-new-technological-invention-of-the/) Paul Gordon Lauren > [“Before them stood a small, erect man who fixed them with a withering gaze, Marshal Ferdinand Foch. After cool introductions, Foch opened the proceedings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-e-persico/before-them-stood-a-small-erect-man-who-fixed-them-with-a-withering/) [Joseph E. 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