--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90…" description: "\"Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.\" — Thomas Alva Edison" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/thomas-alva-edison-57059_inspiration_success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90_1656296.jpg" --- # Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent… ![“Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.” quote by Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/thomas-alva-edison-57059_inspiration_success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90_1656296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/thomas-alva-edison-57059_inspiration_success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90_1656296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/thomas-alva-edison-57059_inspiration_success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90_1656296.jpg) > “Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.” [Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work outweighs ideas; effort drives achievement more than imagination. **In simple terms:** Effort matters more than ideas. Key Takeaway Prioritize consistent work. Themes hard work effort achievement Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - starting a business - studying for exams - training for sports - creative projects Key Concepts productivity discipline goal setting Questions to Reflect On - How can you increase daily effort? - What tasks can you automate to free time for work? A Different Perspective Talent alone rarely yields success without dedication. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [The secret to a masterpiece is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/the-secret-to-a-masterpiece-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90-percent/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [People often say that writing is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration. This is nonsense, of course. It's pretty much one hundred percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caprice-crane/people-often-say-that-writing-is-ten-percent-inspiration-and-ninety/) [Caprice Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caprice-crane/) > [“If genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration, then as a culture we tend to lionize the one percent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/if-genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-and-ninety-nine-percent/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“It has been often said that writing is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration. In my experience, this is true. But, in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fanney/it-has-been-often-said-that-writing-is-99-percent-perspiration-and-1/) [Robert Fanney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fanney/) > [“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/) > [Genius is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-edison/genius-is-99-percent-perspiration-and-1-percent-inspiration/) [Thomas Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-edison/) > [“The idea itself is the ten percent inspiration; the hammering it into a viable, successful, memorable story is the ninety percent perspiration that follows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-claremont/the-idea-itself-is-the-ten-percent-inspiration-the-hammering-it-into/) [Chris Claremont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-claremont/) > [Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-leacock/success-is-10-inspiration-and-90-perspiration/) [Stephen Leacock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-leacock/) > [“Life is 10 percent circumstance and 90 percent how we deal with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-durrant/life-is-10-percent-circumstance-and-90-percent-how-we-deal-with-it/) Michael Durrant > [“In life, never spend more than 10 percent of your time on the problem, and spend at least 90 percent of your time on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-robbins/in-life-never-spend-more-than-10-percent-of-your-time-on-the-problem/) [Anthony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-robbins/) > [90 percent of my time is spent on 10 percent of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/90-percent-of-my-time-is-spent-on-10-percent-of-the-world/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I am not a monster. I'm not all bad. Maybe 10 percent. I think I'm 90 percent good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcenroe/i-am-not-a-monster-i-m-not-all-bad-maybe-10-percent-i-think-i-m-90/) [John McEnroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcenroe/) > [Confidence is 10 percent hard work and 90 percent delusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/confidence-is-10-percent-hard-work-and-90-percent-delusion/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [“Ideally, only 10 percent of Taijiquan movement is expressed externally, as 90 percent of the true functioning occurs internally and is unseen by others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-alve-olson/ideally-only-10-percent-of-taijiquan-movement-is-expressed-externally/) [Stuart Alve Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-alve-olson/) > [I've found the 90-10 rule to be pretty true: 90 percent of what I come up with and write down is kinda 'eh,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-ve-found-the-90-10-rule-to-be-pretty-true-90-percent-of-what-i-come/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) ## More by Thomas Alva Edison > [Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/opportunity-is-missed-by-most-because-it-is-dressed-in-overalls-and/) [Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) > [Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-and-99-percent-perspiration/) [Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) > [The three great essentials to achieve anything worth while are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-itiveness; third, common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/the-three-great-essentials-to-achieve-anything-worth-while-are-first/) [Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) > [Most people don't recognize opportunity when it comes, because it's usually dressed in overalls and looks a lot like work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/most-people-don-t-recognize-opportunity-when-it-comes-because-it-s/) [Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) > [Until a man duplicates a blade of grass, Nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals will never stand in favorable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/until-a-man-duplicates-a-blade-of-grass-nature-can-laugh-at-his-so/) [Thomas Alva Edison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) [Explore all 6 Thomas Alva Edison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/) ## More Inspiration quotes > [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/) [H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“Success is for a man whose stories of sruggles and chalenges are inspirations to and up coming generation..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-sanaba-c/success-is-for-a-man-whose-stories-of-sruggles-and-chalenges-are/) Nelly sanaba .c > [Loving you is the best feeling have ever had, and you loving me is the greater gift I have..I will be brave, I wont…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fash/loving-you-is-the-best-feeling-have-ever-had-and-you-loving-me-is-the/) Fash > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [You make me feel brand new today. Even my day is full of trials and pain…Thanks for everything...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-lantapi/you-make-me-feel-brand-new-today-even-my-day-is-full-of-trials-and/) [Richard Lantapi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-lantapi/) > [I have learned that you can go anywhere you want to go and do anything you want to do and buy all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c-2/i-have-learned-that-you-can-go-anywhere-you-want-to-go-and-do/) [C JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c-2/) > [Every human creates his own problems. Problems are ones private property and we shouldnt meddle into them self-initiatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-papian/every-human-creates-his-own-problems-problems-are-ones-private/) [Ruben Papian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-papian/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Be proud of who you are & who you represent.You are unique, there is no other exactly like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/be-proud-of-who-you-are-who-you-represent-you-are-unique-there-is-no/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm just always looking forwards. I spend very little time, looking backwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/i-m-just-always-looking-forwards-i-spend-very-little-time-looking/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [“Complete - Yourself! Others may only enhance your completeness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lashauna-d-hinton/complete-yourself-others-may-only-enhance-your-completeness/) Lashauna D. Hinton [Browse all 17,129 Inspiration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Alva Edison" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90-percent-perspiration/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Inspiration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90-percent-perspiration/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/thomas-alva-edison-57059_inspiration_success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90_1656296.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/thomas-alva-edison-57059_inspiration_success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90_1656296.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8fb/thomas-alva-edison-57059_inspiration_success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90_1656296.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration.” — Thomas Alva 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 Alva Edison", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-alva-edison/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Success is 10 percent inspiration and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90-percent-perspiration/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alva-edison/success-is-10-percent-inspiration-and-90-percent-perspiration/#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 } } ] } ```