--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fooling around with alternating currents…" description: "\"Fooling around with alternating currents is just a waste of time. Nobody will use it, ever. It's too dangerous . . . it could kill a man as quick as a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/thomas-a-edison-866_bolts_fooling-around-with-alternating-currents_1099447.jpg" --- # Fooling around with alternating currents is just a waste… ![“Fooling around with alternating currents is just a waste of time. Nobody will use it, ever. It's too dangerous . . . it could kill a man as quick as a bolt of lightning. Direct current is safe.” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/thomas-a-edison-866_bolts_fooling-around-with-alternating-currents_1099447.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/thomas-a-edison-866_bolts_fooling-around-with-alternating-currents_1099447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a06/thomas-a-edison-866_bolts_fooling-around-with-alternating-currents_1099447.jpg) > “Fooling around with alternating currents is just a waste of time. Nobody will use it, ever. It's too dangerous . . . it could kill a man as quick as a bolt of lightning. Direct current is safe.” [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He dismisses alternating current as dangerous and useless, favoring direct current. **In simple terms:** He claims AC is unsafe and unnecessary, preferring DC. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate new technologies. Themes innovation risk energy technology Mood skeptical historical Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - Power grid design - industrial safety - public policy Key Concepts Electrical engineering technology adoption Questions to Reflect On - Why dismiss emerging tech without testing? - What are the risks of favoring one standard? A Different Perspective AC later proved superior for long‑distance transmission. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alternating Currents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternating-currents-759821/) [Bolts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bolts/) [Current Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/current-safe-2884150/) [Currents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currents/) [Currents Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currents-just-2884149/) [Dangerous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Direct Current](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct-current-2884148/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Follow your dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-your-dreams/) [Fooling around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fooling-around/) [Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Safe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safe/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) ## Related quotes > [“It means the third rail has seven hundred volts of direct current running through it. 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