--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Necessity is literally the mother of…" description: "\"Necessity is literally the mother of invention.\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/plato-103_innovation_necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-inv_2822701.jpg" --- # Necessity is literally the mother of invention. ![“Necessity is literally the mother of invention.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/plato-103_innovation_necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-inv_2822701.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/plato-103_innovation_necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-inv_2822701.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/plato-103_innovation_necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-inv_2822701.jpg) > “Necessity is literally the mother of invention.” [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## 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 suggests that pressing needs drive creative solutions. **In simple terms:** Needs spark innovation. Key Takeaway Identify a problem and create a solution. Themes creativity problem solving innovation Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - business challenges - personal obstacles - environmental crises Key Concepts necessity resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - What need could you address today? - How can constraints inspire creativity? A Different Perspective Innovation may be limited by lack of resources or support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Mother Of Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-of-invention/) [Necessity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [“Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, but it is the mother of any number of other things as well: sacrifice and monstrosity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-s-a-corey/necessity-they-say-is-the-mother-of-invention-but-it-is-the-mother-of/) [James S.A. Corey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-s-a-corey/) > [The mother of invention in music is necessity, not Frank Zappa!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/the-mother-of-invention-in-music-is-necessity-not-frank-zappa/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [You know the expression, 'Necessity is the mother of Invention'? It's gotten completely reversed. Now, it's 'Invention is the mother of Necessity.' Things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wahl/you-know-the-expression-necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention-it-s/) [Ken Wahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wahl/) > [Necessity, the mother of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/necessity-the-mother-of-invention/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How true is that necessity is the mother of invention, how very true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/how-true-is-that-necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention-how-very-true/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [Luxury, not necessity, is the mother of invention. Every artifact is somewhat wanting in its function, and that is what drives its evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-petroski/luxury-not-necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention-every-artifact-is/) [Henry Petroski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-petroski/) > [Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise. "Necessity is the mother of invention" is a silly proverb. "Necessity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/inventive-genius-requires-pleasurable-mental-activity-as-a-condition/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [“Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention, but fear too, is not barren of ingenious suggestions." "Nice little saloon, isn't it" I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/necessity-they-say-is-the-mother-of-invention-but-fear-too-is-not/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > ["Necessity is the mother of invention" is a silly proverb. "Necessity is the mother of futile dodges" is much nearer the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention-is-a-silly-proverb-necessity-is/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Necessity, who is the mother of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Necessity, who is the mother of our invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-our-invention/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I purely attribute my 'hamming it up' quality to growing up with three older brothers and just being like a tomboy my whole life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-dushku/i-purely-attribute-my-hamming-it-up-quality-to-growing-up-with-three/) [Eliza Dushku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-dushku/) > [A bad memory is the mother of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-brenan/a-bad-memory-is-the-mother-of-invention/) [Gerald Brenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-brenan/) > [A guilty conscience is the mother of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/a-guilty-conscience-is-the-mother-of-invention/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [Hope, even more than necessity, is the mother of invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-sacks/hope-even-more-than-necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention/) [Jonathan Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-sacks/) ## More by Plato > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [You may be sure, dear Crito, that inaccurate language is not only in itself a mistake: it implants evil in men's souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/you-may-be-sure-dear-crito-that-inaccurate-language-is-not-only-in/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“If men learn this, it will implant forgetfulness in their souls; they will cease to exercise memory because they rely on that which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/if-men-learn-this-it-will-implant-forgetfulness-in-their-souls-they/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/knowledge-which-is-acquired-under-compulsion-obtains-no-hold-on-the/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I do not think it is permitted that a better man be harmed by a worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-do-not-think-it-is-permitted-that-a-better-man-be-harmed-by-a-worse/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Any city, however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich; these are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/any-city-however-small-is-in-fact-divided-into-two-one-the-city-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-as-nobody-may-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“The love of man to woman is a thing common and of course, and at first partakes more of instinct and passion than of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/the-love-of-man-to-woman-is-a-thing-common-and-of-course-and-at-first/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Strange times are these in which we live when old and young are taught in falsehood's school, and the one man that dares to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/strange-times-are-these-in-which-we-live-when-old-and-young-are/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“He was a wise man who invented God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-was-a-wise-man-who-invented-god/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/for-let-me-tell-you-that-the-more-the-pleasures-of-the-body-fade-away/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [“What shall we say about those spectators, then, who can see a plurality of beautiful things, but not beauty itself, and who are incapable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/what-shall-we-say-about-those-spectators-then-who-can-see-a-plurality/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Geometry existed before creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/geometry-existed-before-creation/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [When men speak ill of thee, live so that nobody will believe them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/when-men-speak-ill-of-thee-live-so-that-nobody-will-believe-them/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must, if we are to be consistent, and if we re to have a real pedigree herd, mate the best of our men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/we-must-if-we-are-to-be-consistent-and-if-we-re-to-have-a-real/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) [Explore all 1,278 Plato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) ## More Innovation quotes > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/i-believe-that-one-defines-oneself-by-reinvention/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [“In the innovation age customer experience is key. Your impression defines their expression”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fela-durotoye/in-the-innovation-age-customer-experience-is-key-your-impression/) [Fela Durotoye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fela-durotoye/) > [“Incrementalism never allows innovation to flourish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-ratna/incrementalism-never-allows-innovation-to-flourish/) [Abhishek Ratna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-ratna/) > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [Real breakthroughs are not found because you want to develop some new technology, but because you are curious and want to find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-zeilinger/real-breakthroughs-are-not-found-because-you-want-to-develop-some-new/) [Anton Zeilinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-zeilinger/) > [Why is it that, when we want to think outside the proverbial box, we often put ourselves in one? We gather our team in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-best/why-is-it-that-when-we-want-to-think-outside-the-proverbial-box-we/) [Charles Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-best/) > [We have to be innovative, we have to be fresh, we have to be new. People are counting on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-barthel/we-have-to-be-innovative-we-have-to-be-fresh-we-have-to-be-new-people/) [Sarah Barthel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-barthel/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [I'd take garbage, and I'd glue them together and create inventions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-makosinski/i-d-take-garbage-and-i-d-glue-them-together-and-create-inventions/) [Ann Makosinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-makosinski/) > [“Some innovations just don’t attract enough economic or social demand: just as supersonic flight and manned space flight stagnated after the 1970s, today (in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-j-rees/some-innovations-just-don-t-attract-enough-economic-or-social-demand/) Martin J. Rees > [We're focused on providing innovations in software, driving the continuous improvement for a much better experience, and there's a lot going on here that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/we-re-focused-on-providing-innovations-in-software-driving-the/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Other things being equal, it is the person who can lift his work up to the plane of the intuitional and inspiration who achieves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanwood-cobb/other-things-being-equal-it-is-the-person-who-can-lift-his-work-up-to/) Stanwood Cobb > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) [Browse all 4,437 Innovation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Necessity is literally the mother of invention.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-invention/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Innovation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-invention/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/plato-103_innovation_necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-inv_2822701.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/plato-103_innovation_necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-inv_2822701.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa3/plato-103_innovation_necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-inv_2822701.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Necessity is literally the mother of invention.” — Plato", "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": "Plato", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Necessity is literally the mother of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-invention/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-is-literally-the-mother-of-invention/#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 } } ] } ```