Accidents Quote by Thomas A. Edison
“I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come indirectly through accident, except the phonograph. No, when I have, fully decided that a result is worth getting, I go about it, and make trial after trial, until it comes.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: 1910 address to the American Institute of Electrical Engineers
The speaker emphasizes deliberate, focused effort over accidental discovery, asserting that purposeful work leads to meaningful inventions.
In simple terms: Hard work, not luck, creates breakthroughs.
Key Takeaway
Plan goals, iterate, persist.
Themes
innovation
determination
process
discipline
Mood
inspirational
determined
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- research labs
- product development
- creative projects
- academic studies
Key Concepts
inventive mindset
goal setting
experimental method
Questions to Reflect On
- What problem will you solve with focused effort?
- How do you measure progress toward a goal?
A Different Perspective
Random serendipity can still spark ideas; not all breakthroughs are planned.
![“I told [Kruesi] I was going to record talking, and then have the machine talk back. He thought it absurd. However, it was finished, the foil was put on; I then shouted "Mary had a little lamb," etc. I adjusted the reproducer, and the machine reproduced it perfectly. On first words spoken on a…” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a75/thomas-a-edison-866_absurd_i-told-kruesi-i-was-going-to-record-talk_452681.jpg)
