--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never did anything by accident, nor did…" description: "\"I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.\" — Thomas A. Edison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/thomas-a-edison-866_innovation_i-never-did-anything-by-accident-nor-did_811415.jpg" --- # I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my… ![“I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/thomas-a-edison-866_innovation_i-never-did-anything-by-accident-nor-did_811415.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/thomas-a-edison-866_innovation_i-never-did-anything-by-accident-nor-did_811415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9a/thomas-a-edison-866_innovation_i-never-did-anything-by-accident-nor-did_811415.jpg) > “I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.” [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. My inventions resulted from deliberate effort, not chance. **In simple terms:** Work, not luck, creates inventions. Key Takeaway Prioritize purposeful work. Themes innovation effort intentionality Mood inspirational pragmatic Type historical motivational When to use this quote - research labs - entrepreneurship - product development - skill training Key Concepts process discipline creative problem solving Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance planning with openness? - What habits foster intentional creation? A Different Perspective Accidental discoveries still happen. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Inventions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventions/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-never-did-anything-worth-doing-by-accident-nor-did-any-of-my-2/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come indirectly through accident, except the phonograph. No, when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-never-did-anything-worth-doing-by-accident-nor-did-any-of-my/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Inventions are rarely just a sudden bright idea. Even if they are, they usually have antecedents in the form of pieces of the idea...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rhodes/inventions-are-rarely-just-a-sudden-bright-idea-even-if-they-are-they/) [Richard Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rhodes/) > [Pretty much all of my inventions come about the same way. I have an everyday problem or something that I'm too lazy to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-giertz/pretty-much-all-of-my-inventions-come-about-the-same-way-i-have-an/) [Simone Giertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-giertz/) > [None of my inventions came by accident. I see a worthwhile need to be met and I make trial after trial until it comes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/none-of-my-inventions-came-by-accident-i-see-a-worthwhile-need-to-be/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [When I did inventions, I always thought only of the invention itself, but the kids would ask for marketing materials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-hakuta/when-i-did-inventions-i-always-thought-only-of-the-invention-itself/) [Ken Hakuta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-hakuta/) > [My husband and I had recently been in a car accident, and I came out of that experience with more clarity about my career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-liebman/my-husband-and-i-had-recently-been-in-a-car-accident-and-i-came-out/) [Wendy Liebman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-liebman/) > [“And this accident came about...?"Through nature's unpredictability not man's incapacity. No errors were committed in our maneuvers. Nevertheless, we can't prevent a loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/and-this-accident-came-about-through-nature-s-unpredictability-not/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [“I know people will say that it's because of the accident that I came back to church-well, they're right. I'm not too proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-m-draper/i-know-people-will-say-that-it-s-because-of-the-accident-that-i-came/) [Sharon M. Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-m-draper/) > [Approaching people for work has not worked for me. People who came to me with work has worked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/approaching-people-for-work-has-not-worked-for-me-people-who-came-to/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [I'm living the dream! Unfortunately, its the one where I came to work with no pants on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/green-monk/i-m-living-the-dream-unfortunately-its-the-one-where-i-came-to-work/) [Green Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/green-monk/) > [I came to L.A. to work and become a better actress, not to be a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ambrose/i-came-to-l-a-to-work-and-become-a-better-actress-not-to-be-a-star/) [Lauren Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ambrose/) > [Elvis was incredibly cooperative. He would try anything. He wasn't a diva, no prima donna. When it came to work, he was a workhorse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-leiber/elvis-was-incredibly-cooperative-he-would-try-anything-he-wasn-t-a/) [Jerry Leiber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-leiber/) > [I never did anything worth doing entirely by accident. . . Almost none of my inventions came about totally by accident. They were achieved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-never-did-anything-worth-doing-entirely-by-accident-almost-none-of/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Of all my inventions, I liked the phonograph best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/of-all-my-inventions-i-liked-the-phonograph-best/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## More by Thomas A. Edison > [We are striking it big in the electric light, better than my vivid imagination first conceived. Where this thing is going to stop Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/we-are-striking-it-big-in-the-electric-light-better-than-my-vivid/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I will not say I failed 1000 times, I will say that I discovered there are 1000 ways that can cause failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-will-not-say-i-failed-1000-times-i-will-say-that-i-discovered-there/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Friendship is the heaven of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/friendship-is-the-heaven-of-life/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/even-though-i-am-nearly-deaf-i-seem-to-be-gifted-with-a-kind-of-inner/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/being-busy-does-not-always-mean-real-work-the-object-of-all-work-is/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The very first thing an executive must have is a fine memory. Of course it does not follow that a man with a fine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-very-first-thing-an-executive-must-have-is-a-fine-memory-of/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Personally, I enjoy working about 18 hours a day. Besides the short catnaps I take each day, I average about four to five hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/personally-i-enjoy-working-about-18-hours-a-day-besides-the-short/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The brain can be developed just the same as the muscles can be developed, if on will only take the pains to train the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/the-brain-can-be-developed-just-the-same-as-the-muscles-can-be/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [“People who will not turn a shovel full of dirt on the project nor contribute a pound of material, will collect more money from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/people-who-will-not-turn-a-shovel-full-of-dirt-on-the-project-nor/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [When I have fully decided that a result is worth getting I go ahead of it and make trial after trial until it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/when-i-have-fully-decided-that-a-result-is-worth-getting-i-go-ahead/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [I remember that I was never able to get along at school. I was at the foot of the class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-remember-that-i-was-never-able-to-get-along-at-school-i-was-at-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Invention is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/invention-is-10-inspiration-and-90-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [There seems to be no limit to which some men will go to avoid the labor of thinking. Thinking is hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/there-seems-to-be-no-limit-to-which-some-men-will-go-to-avoid-the/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Somewhere between the ages of eleven and fifteen, the average child begins to suffer from an atrophy, the paralysis of curiosity and the suspension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/somewhere-between-the-ages-of-eleven-and-fifteen-the-average-child/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [Not only will atomic power be released, but someday we will harness the rise and fall of the tides and imprison the rays of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/not-only-will-atomic-power-be-released-but-someday-we-will-harness/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) [Explore all 345 Thomas A. Edison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) ## 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 > [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 > [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": "I never did anything by accident, nor did any of my inventions come by accident; they came by work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas A. 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