--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never perfected an invention that I did…" description: "\"I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/thomas-a-edison-866_business-opportunity_i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-di_1924510.jpg" --- # I never perfected an invention that I did not think about… ![“I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent.” quote by Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/thomas-a-edison-866_business-opportunity_i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-di_1924510.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/thomas-a-edison-866_business-opportunity_i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-di_1924510.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/thomas-a-edison-866_business-opportunity_i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-di_1924510.jpg) > “I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent.” [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 invents only after identifying a clear societal need, then creates solutions. **In simple terms:** Identify a need, then invent. Key Takeaway Focus on solving real problems. Themes innovation service problem solving entrepreneurship Mood inspirational pragmatic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - product development - social impact projects - startup ideation - community service Key Concepts needs assessment design thinking market research Questions to Reflect On - What need do you see unmet today? - How can you test a solution’s usefulness early? A Different Perspective Risk of overlooking speculative breakthroughs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-opportunity/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [Entrepreneurial spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurial-spirit/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Innovation inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation-inspiration/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Inspirational and innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-and-innovation/) [Invent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invent/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Invention Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention-did-2975212/) [Inventor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventor/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [New business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-business/) [Perfected Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfected-invention-2975211/) [Proceed Invent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proceed-invent-2975213/) [Science and technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-and-technology/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) [Small business owners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-business-owners/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I never pick up an item without thinking of how I might improve it. I never perfected an invention that I did not think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-never-pick-up-an-item-without-thinking-of-how-i-might-improve-it-i/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [If you haven't found it yet, keep looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/if-you-haven-t-found-it-yet-keep-looking/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Don't settle, as with all matters of the heart you'll know when you find it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/don-t-settle-as-with-all-matters-of-the-heart-you-ll-know-when-you/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-aiken/don-t-worry-about-people-stealing-your-ideas/) [Howard Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-aiken/) > [You have to trust in something--your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/you-have-to-trust-in-something-your-gut-destiny-life-karma-whatever-2/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/the-difficulty-lies-not-in-the-new-ideas-but-in-escaping-from-the-old/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [The best revenge is the massive success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/the-best-revenge-is-the-massive-success/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-only-way-to-be-truly-satisfied-is-to-do-what-you-believe-is-great-2/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Hell! there ain't no rules around here! We are tryin' to accomplish somep'n!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/hell-there-ain-t-no-rules-around-here-we-are-tryin-to-accomplish/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity - not a threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/innovation-is-the-ability-to-see-change-as-an-opportunity-not-a-threat/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [You're already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/you-re-already-naked-there-is-no-reason-not-to-follow-your-heart/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-ninety-nine-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas A. Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/) > [The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-reasonable-man-adapts-himself-to-the-world-the-unreasonable-one-4/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I'm as proud of many of the things we haven't done as the things we have done. Innovation is saying no to a thousand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-m-as-proud-of-many-of-the-things-we-haven-t-done-as-the-things-we/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The biggest risk is not taking any risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/the-biggest-risk-is-not-taking-any-risk/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) ## 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 Business opportunity quotes > [In this business, where the opportunity to think everything is about you is there every day, now I really know that it isn't all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-beckinsale/in-this-business-where-the-opportunity-to-think-everything-is-about/) [Kate Beckinsale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-beckinsale/) > [The formation of the News America Publishing Group will lead to greater editorial excitement, new business opportunities and greater efficiencies and coordination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-chernin/the-formation-of-the-news-america-publishing-group-will-lead-to/) [Peter Chernin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-chernin/) > [I want to experience Dallas. It's a new city where I see new business opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-kardashian/i-want-to-experience-dallas-it-s-a-new-city-where-i-see-new-business/) [Rob Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-kardashian/) > [Most successful businesses in the country were started on a kitchen table. As long as people have needs unmet or problems unsolved, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/most-successful-businesses-in-the-country-were-started-on-a-kitchen/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Then get busy and find out how to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/then-get-busy-and-find-out-how-to-do-it/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [I think a lot of developments start with the desire of the developer to get what he really wants so that he can use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dolby/i-think-a-lot-of-developments-start-with-the-desire-of-the-developer/) [Ray Dolby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dolby/) > [A true business opportunity is the on that an entrepreneur invents to grow him or herself. Not to work in, but to work on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-true-business-opportunity-is-the-on-that-an-entrepreneur-invents-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To every trend there is a counter-trend. There are a number of pendulums operating and each creates new business opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dixon/to-every-trend-there-is-a-counter-trend-there-are-a-number-of/) [Patrick Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dixon/) > [When there's an opportunity, some people pass it by. I've been lucky enough to recognise opportunities and every day, in my business, there's an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-graff/when-there-s-an-opportunity-some-people-pass-it-by-i-ve-been-lucky/) [Laurence Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-graff/) > [We are racing toward a world of abundance, and we are going to be increasing the quality of life for everyone on this planet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/we-are-racing-toward-a-world-of-abundance-and-we-are-going-to-be/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [Success in business requires training and discipline and hard work. But if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rockefeller/success-in-business-requires-training-and-discipline-and-hard-work/) [David Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rockefeller/) > [I feel like after acting, the other half of why I love this business is the opportunity to work with and meet people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-yoo/i-feel-like-after-acting-the-other-half-of-why-i-love-this-business/) [Aaron Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-yoo/) > [What drives me is the prospect of turning an obstacle into a business opportunity, and then growing that into something lasting and rewarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/what-drives-me-is-the-prospect-of-turning-an-obstacle-into-a-business/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [The #1 business opportunity for those who want to create new wealth is educating consumers about products and services that will improve their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-zane-pilzer/the-1-business-opportunity-for-those-who-want-to-create-new-wealth-is/) [Paul Zane Pilzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-zane-pilzer/) > [Every single social and global issue of our day is a business opportunity in disguise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/every-single-social-and-global-issue-of-our-day-is-a-business/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) [Browse all 54 Business opportunity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-opportunity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas A. Edison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-did-not-think-about-in-terms-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business opportunity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-did-not-think-about-in-terms-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/thomas-a-edison-866_business-opportunity_i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-di_1924510.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/thomas-a-edison-866_business-opportunity_i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-di_1924510.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c8/thomas-a-edison-866_business-opportunity_i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-di_1924510.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I…” — Thomas A. Edison", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas A. Edison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-edison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never perfected an invention that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-did-not-think-about-in-terms-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-edison/i-never-perfected-an-invention-that-i-did-not-think-about-in-terms-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```