Cruelty Quote by Samuel Crompton
““A man has a very insecure tenure of a property which another can carry away with his eyes. A few months reduced me to the cruel necessity either of destroying my machine, or of giving it to the public. To destroy it, I could not think of; to give up that for which I had laboured so long, was cruel. I had no patent, nor the means of purchasing one. In preference to destroying, I gave it to the public. [On his inability to keep for himself a profitable income from his invention of the Spinning Mule.]””
About This Quote
Source Book: The History of the Spinning Mule, 1820
An inventor, lacking legal protection, chose to share his creation rather than destroy it, highlighting the tension between personal loss and public benefit.
In simple terms: He gave his invention to everyone because he couldn’t patent it.
Key Takeaway
Share valuable work when you can’t protect it.
Themes
innovation
public good
intellectual property
sacrifice
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
historical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- industrial revolution
- entrepreneurship
- technology sharing
- financial hardship
Key Concepts
patent law
commons
creative destruction
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do with a breakthrough you can’t protect?
- How does sharing benefit society?
A Different Perspective
If he had secured a patent, he might have profited instead of giving it away.
![“I don't know if I know anyone, with the exception of the early inventors of rock music [who wasn't influenced by something].” quote by Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fb0/bruce-springsteen-546_exception_i-don-t-know-if-i-know-anyone-with-the-e_23352.jpg)
![“[The original development of the Spinning Mule was a] continual endeavour to realise a more perfect principle of spinning; and though often baffled, I as often renewed the attempt, and at length succeeded to my utmost desire, at the expense of every shilling I had in the world.” quote by Samuel Crompton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/924/samuel-crompton-83893_baffled_the-original-development-of-the-spinning_1224654.jpg)
