Innovation Quote by Philip Slater
“Every invention creates new needs, but the biggest needs are not for new and more advanced versions of the last invention but for solutions to the social problems the last invention created.”
About This Quote
Inventions generate new needs, but the greatest needs are solutions to the social problems they cause.
In simple terms: Inventions create needs; solve social problems.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize social impact in innovation.
Themes
technology
social responsibility
needs
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
philosophical
practical
When to use this quote
- product design
- policy making
- community development
Key Concepts
economics
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can innovators balance profit and social need?
- What policies encourage socially beneficial inventions?
A Different Perspective
Market forces may prioritize profit over social good.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
