--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Innovation is hard. It really is. Because…" description: "\"Innovation is hard. It really is. Because most people don't get it. Remember, the automobile, the airplane, the telephone, these were all considered to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/nolan-bushnell-5525_airplane_innovation-is-hard-it-really-is-because_1537805.jpg" --- # Innovation is hard. It really is. Because most people… ![“Innovation is hard. It really is. Because most people don't get it. Remember, the automobile, the airplane, the telephone, these were all considered toys at their introduction because they had no constituency. They were too new.” quote by Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/nolan-bushnell-5525_airplane_innovation-is-hard-it-really-is-because_1537805.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/nolan-bushnell-5525_airplane_innovation-is-hard-it-really-is-because_1537805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca7/nolan-bushnell-5525_airplane_innovation-is-hard-it-really-is-because_1537805.jpg) > “Innovation is hard. It really is. Because most people don't get it. Remember, the automobile, the airplane, the telephone, these were all considered toys at their introduction because they had no constituency. They were too new.” [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote reflects on how groundbreaking inventions were once dismissed as toys, underscoring the difficulty of recognizing innovation early. **In simple terms:** New inventions are often seen as toys at first. Key Takeaway Believe in novel ideas. Themes innovation history skepticism Mood thoughtful inspirational Type analysis commentary When to use this quote - entrepreneurship - product development - education Key Concepts technology adoption market perception Questions to Reflect On - How can societies better support early innovators? - What criteria should assess new technologies? A Different Perspective Not all ideas become successful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Automobile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/automobile/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Introduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introduction/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Toys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toys/) ## Related quotes > [“Innovation is hard at first, clumsy in the middle but incredible at the end.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/innovation-is-hard-at-first-clumsy-in-the-middle-but-incredible-at/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [We need a tax code that promotes savings, investment, achievement, innovation, and hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-paulsen/we-need-a-tax-code-that-promotes-savings-investment-achievement/) [Erik Paulsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-paulsen/) > [Innovation is hard to schedule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fylstra/innovation-is-hard-to-schedule/) Dan Fylstra > [Management is simple, innovation is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/management-is-simple-innovation-is-hard/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [Innovation is hard because solving problems people didn't know they had & building something no one needs look identical at first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-levie/innovation-is-hard-because-solving-problems-people-didn-t-know-they/) [Aaron Levie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-levie/) > [So technologies, whether it is a telephone or an iPhone, computers in general or automobiles, television even, all individualize us. We all sit in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mintzberg/so-technologies-whether-it-is-a-telephone-or-an-iphone-computers-in/) [Henry Mintzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mintzberg/) > [Imagination has given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine, and the automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/imagination-has-given-us-the-steam-engine-the-telephone-the-talking/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [Keep in mind our Constitution predates the Industrial Revolution. Our founders did not know about electricity, the train, telephones, radio, television, automobiles, airplanes, rockets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/keep-in-mind-our-constitution-predates-the-industrial-revolution-our/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [The mediated world has approached us from a lot of different directions and we have freely chosen our automobiles and our skyscrapers and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/the-mediated-world-has-approached-us-from-a-lot-of-different/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Imagination has given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine, and the automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/imagination-has-given-us-the-steam-engine-the-telephone-the-talking-3/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [Henry Ford has several times sneered at unproductive stockholders… Well, now. Let's see. Who made Henry Ford's own automobile company possible? The stockholders who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/henry-ford-has-several-times-sneered-at-unproductive-stockholders/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [In this time of recession, it is the time for invention. Did you know both the telephone and the automobile were invented during recessions?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/in-this-time-of-recession-it-is-the-time-for-invention-did-you-know/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [Imagination has given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine, and the automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/imagination-has-given-us-the-steam-engine-the-telephone-the-talking-2/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [This country has achieved its commercial and financial supremacy under a regime of private ownership. It conquered the wilderness, built our railroads, our factories,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-b-cortelyou/this-country-has-achieved-its-commercial-and-financial-supremacy/) George B. Cortelyou > [Invest in learning and discovering new filmmaking techniques is the next keystone to success. Film is changing rapidly right now. The last big change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-grove/invest-in-learning-and-discovering-new-filmmaking-techniques-is-the/) Elliot Grove ## More by Nolan Bushnell > [Some of the best projects to ever come out of Atari or Chuck E. Cheese's were from high school dropouts, college dropouts. One guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/some-of-the-best-projects-to-ever-come-out-of-atari-or-chuck-e-cheese/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [I guess I'd like to be known for being an innovator, fostering creativity, thinking outside the box. You know, keeping people playful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/i-guess-i-d-like-to-be-known-for-being-an-innovator-fostering/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [I've always been a tech-head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/i-ve-always-been-a-tech-head/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [In 1980, Atari was bringing in around two billion dollars in revenue and Chuck E. Cheese's some five hundred million. I still didn't feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/in-1980-atari-was-bringing-in-around-two-billion-dollars-in-revenue/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [I believe that in games, when you're talking about pitting my wits and my brain against your wits and your brain, that simplicity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/i-believe-that-in-games-when-you-re-talking-about-pitting-my-wits-and/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [The subtle generational cues that make one thing cool and another uncool aren't always obvious to a parent. My children are my dinner-table sounding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/the-subtle-generational-cues-that-make-one-thing-cool-and-another/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [The truly creative people tend to be outliers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/the-truly-creative-people-tend-to-be-outliers/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [I'm a big believer in the Wii. I love the physicality of the Wii controller, and how you can get the feeling of throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/i-m-a-big-believer-in-the-wii-i-love-the-physicality-of-the-wii/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [Women were very, very good at 'Pong'. It was part of the dating scene. The number of people who told me they met their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/women-were-very-very-good-at-pong-it-was-part-of-the-dating-scene-the/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [Learning ballroom dancing is great for your brain. But it only works for three to six months. After that, you've got all the benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/learning-ballroom-dancing-is-great-for-your-brain-but-it-only-works/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [Walk to work, even if it's four miles. Ride a bike to work. Drive a different way. On your way there, try to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/walk-to-work-even-if-it-s-four-miles-ride-a-bike-to-work-drive-a/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [Hire for passion and intensity; there is training for everything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/hire-for-passion-and-intensity-there-is-training-for-everything-else/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [When I was running Atari, violence against humanoid figures was not allowed. We'd let you shoot at a tank... but we drew the line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/when-i-was-running-atari-violence-against-humanoid-figures-was-not/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [You wanna build your IQ higher in the next two years? Be uncomfortable. That means, learn something where you have a beginner's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/you-wanna-build-your-iq-higher-in-the-next-two-years-be-uncomfortable/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [People hate to and will not read instructions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/people-hate-to-and-will-not-read-instructions/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) [Explore all 100 Nolan Bushnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) ## More Airplane quotes > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [I shoot in black and white, sometimes color, sometimes if it looks good I shoot out the window of the airplanes or whatever, anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-shoot-in-black-and-white-sometimes-color-sometimes-if-it-looks-good/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I've jumped out of an airplane 34 times. I've dove 212 feet under water. I've done a lot of things that defied death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/i-ve-jumped-out-of-an-airplane-34-times-i-ve-dove-212-feet-under/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [I believe that anyone who flies in an airplane and doesn't spend most of his time looking out the window wastes his money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-reisner/i-believe-that-anyone-who-flies-in-an-airplane-and-doesn-t-spend-most/) [Marc Reisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-reisner/) > [We live in a world where it has become politically correct to avoid absolutes. Many want all religions to be given the same honor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-live-in-a-world-where-it-has-become-politically-correct-to-avoid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On the second airplane to france and we're done ! yeyyyyyyyyy !! this one was more full :P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmmopy/on-the-second-airplane-to-france-and-we-re-done-yeyyyyyyyyy-this-one/) Shmmopy > [The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I'd rather fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-morgan/the-way-i-see-it-you-can-either-work-for-a-living-or-you-can-fly/) Len Morgan > [I'm 17 years old. I'm not a straight-A student or anything. Even so, I figured out how to make an Internet that they can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/i-m-17-years-old-i-m-not-a-straight-a-student-or-anything-even-so-i/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [I don't have a fear of flying; I have a fear of crashing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-don-t-have-a-fear-of-flying-i-have-a-fear-of-crashing/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [From computers to information technology to airplanes, it has been America's unique blend of republican government and free-market capitalism that has allowed us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nethercutt/from-computers-to-information-technology-to-airplanes-it-has-been/) [George Nethercutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nethercutt/) > [I've been racking my brain. I've been trying to figure out how Bob Dole's luggage got on my airplane...I told the doctor, I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-ve-been-racking-my-brain-i-ve-been-trying-to-figure-out-how-bob/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Sometimes life is like being stuck in the middle-seat of an airplane, next to a ridiculously fat person and a crying baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-is-like-being-stuck-in-the-middle-seat-of-an-airplane/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm sure the most favorite airplane in my career would still be the Sabre F86 cleft wing , which allowed me to be credited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-m-sure-the-most-favorite-airplane-in-my-career-would-still-be-the/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. You can be on a sinking ship-and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/i-do-not-use-airplanes-they-strike-me-as-unsporting-you-can-have-an/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [John Travolta said he sometimes lets his friends take control of his airplane even though they don't know what they're doing. Then Travolta said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/john-travolta-said-he-sometimes-lets-his-friends-take-control-of-his/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) Browse all 935 Airplane quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Innovation is hard. It really is. Because most people don't get it. Remember, the automobile, the airplane, the telephone, these were all considered toys at their introduction because they had no constituency. 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