Coal Quote by Thomas A. Edison
“It is very different to make a practical system and to introduce it. A few experiments in the laboratory would prove the practicability of system long before it could be brought into general use. You can take a pipe and put a little coal in it, close it up, heat it and light the gas that comes out of the stem, but that is not introducing gas lighting. I'll bet that if it were discovered to-morrow in New York that gas could be made out of coal it would be at least five years before the system would be in general use.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Invention, Thomas Edison, 1880
Laboratory experiments show feasibility long before a technology is widely adopted, highlighting the gap between proof of concept and market introduction.
In simple terms: Ideas work in labs before they become common.
Key Takeaway
Expect delays between discovery and everyday use.
Themes
innovation
adoption
technology transfer
Mood
cautious
optimistic
Type
observational
pragmatic
When to use this quote
- research labs
- industrial scaling
- policy regulation
- consumer acceptance
Key Concepts
diffusion of innovation
market readiness
Questions to Reflect On
- How can innovators accelerate adoption?
- What barriers slow diffusion?
A Different Perspective
Technical success does not guarantee rapid societal integration.
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