--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Necessity, who is the mother of invention." description: "\"Necessity, who is the mother of invention.\" — Plato" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/plato-103_innovation_necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention_2123063.jpg" --- # Necessity, who is the mother of invention. ![“Necessity, who is the mother of invention.” quote by Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/plato-103_innovation_necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention_2123063.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/plato-103_innovation_necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention_2123063.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/plato-103_innovation_necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention_2123063.jpg) > “Necessity, who is 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. Need drives invention; scarcity forces creative problem‑solving. **In simple terms:** Necessity sparks invention. Key Takeaway Identify problems, then create solutions. Themes innovation creativity resourcefulness Mood pragmatic thoughtful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - engineering - entrepreneurship - everyday problem solving - artistic creation Key Concepts problem‑solving necessity invention Questions to Reflect On - What real need could you solve today? - Do you invent for necessity or desire? A Different Perspective Not all needs are genuine; some inventions create new dependencies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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 Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-invention-320101/) [Mother Of Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother-of-invention/) [Necessity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity/) [Necessity Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/necessity-mother-320100/) [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/) > ["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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Necessity is the mother of all invention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/necessity-is-the-mother-of-all-invention/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [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/) > [If necessity is the mother of invention, urgency is the uncle of change. Without it, progress slows and then stops and then reverses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-scovell/if-necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention-urgency-is-the-uncle-of/) [Nell Scovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-scovell/) > [“As a child, I was told by my parents and teachers that if I didn't have what I wanted, I had to either accept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleyne-mari-sharp/as-a-child-i-was-told-by-my-parents-and-teachers-that-if-i-didn-t/) [Eleyne-Mari Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleyne-mari-sharp/) > [“If necessity is the mother of invention than imagination must be the egg. Nothing can be invented which has not first been dreamt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissy-byers/if-necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention-than-imagination-must-be-the/) [Chrissy Byers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissy-byers/) > [“The girls put their wits to work, and - necessity being the mother of invention - made whatever they needed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/the-girls-put-their-wits-to-work-and-necessity-being-the-mother-of/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [“I don't think necessity is the mother of invention. Invention . . . arises directly from idleness, possibly also from laziness. To save oneself trouble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/i-don-t-think-necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention-invention-arises/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [Tackling climate change is not a luxury for the good times: for good and bad times it has become a necessity - but necessity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-davey/tackling-climate-change-is-not-a-luxury-for-the-good-times-for-good/) [Ed Davey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-davey/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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, who is the mother of invention.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Plato" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Innovation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/plato-103_innovation_necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention_2123063.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/plato-103_innovation_necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention_2123063.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d51/plato-103_innovation_necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention_2123063.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Necessity, who is 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, who is the mother of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-who-is-the-mother-of-invention/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/necessity-who-is-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 } } ] } ```