--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The steam-engine I call fire-demon and…" description: "\"The steam-engine I call fire-demon and great; but it is nothing to the invention of fire.\" — Thomas Carlyle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/505/thomas-carlyle-207_demon_the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-g_156371.png" --- # The steam-engine I call fire-demon and great; but it is… ![“The steam-engine I call fire-demon and great; but it is nothing to the invention of fire.” quote by Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/505/thomas-carlyle-207_demon_the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-g_156371.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/505/thomas-carlyle-207_demon_the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-g_156371.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/505/thomas-carlyle-207_demon_the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-g_156371.png) > “The steam-engine I call fire-demon and great; but it is nothing to the invention of fire.” [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The steam engine is impressive, but fire is the ultimate transformative invention. **In simple terms:** Fire is more powerful than the steam engine. Key Takeaway Recognize the fundamental forces behind progress. Themes innovation technology history Mood reflective analytical Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - engineering - energy production - historical analysis - comparative technology Key Concepts Industrial Revolution energy sources Questions to Reflect On - What basic forces drive your field? - How do you balance new tech with foundational elements? A Different Perspective The steam engine still revolutionized industry despite fire’s primacy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Demon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Invention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invention/) [Steam engines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steam-engines/) ## Related quotes > [The Internet, like the steam engine, is a technological breakthrough that changed the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/the-internet-like-the-steam-engine-is-a-technological-breakthrough/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [ The smoke and the fire and the speed, the action and the sound, and everything that goes together, \[the steam engine\] is the most… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-winston-link/the-smoke-and-the-fire-and-the-speed-the-action-and-the-sound-and/) [O. Winston Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-winston-link/) > [Every small boy wanted to be a steam engine driver when they grew up in the old days, including me. There's something very special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bond/every-small-boy-wanted-to-be-a-steam-engine-driver-when-they-grew-up/) [Michael Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bond/) > [Better a poor steam engine that runs, than a good one never finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-g-letourneau/better-a-poor-steam-engine-that-runs-than-a-good-one-never-finished/) R. G. LeTourneau > [Neither had Watt of the Steam engine a heroic origin, any kindred with the princes of this world. The princes of this world were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/neither-had-watt-of-the-steam-engine-a-heroic-origin-any-kindred-with/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Instead of the scream of a fish hawk scaring the fishes, is heard the whistle of the steam-engine, arousing a country to its progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/instead-of-the-scream-of-a-fish-hawk-scaring-the-fishes-is-heard-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Ingenious philosophers tell you, perhaps, that the great work of the steam-engine is to create leisure for mankind. Do not believe them; it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/ingenious-philosophers-tell-you-perhaps-that-the-great-work-of-the/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [The steam-engine in its manifold applications, the crime-decreasing gas-lamp, the lightning conductor, the electric telegraph, the law of storms and rules for the mariner's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-owen/the-steam-engine-in-its-manifold-applications-the-crime-decreasing/) [Richard Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-owen/) > [My steamboat voyage to Albany and back, has turned out rather more favorable than I had calculated. The distance from New York to Albany…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulton/my-steamboat-voyage-to-albany-and-back-has-turned-out-rather-more/) [Robert Fulton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulton/) > [The production of motion in the steam engine always occurs in circumstances which it is necessary to recognize, namely when the equilibrium of caloric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-leonard-sadi-carnot/the-production-of-motion-in-the-steam-engine-always-occurs-in/) Nicolas Leonard Sadi Carnot > [Those who understand the steam engine and the electric telegraph spend their lives in trying to replace them with something better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/those-who-understand-the-steam-engine-and-the-electric-telegraph/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [Science owes more to the steam engine than the steam engine owes to science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-joseph-henderson/science-owes-more-to-the-steam-engine-than-the-steam-engine-owes-to/) [Lawrence Joseph Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-joseph-henderson/) > [James Watt patented his steam engine on the eve of the American Revolution, consummating a relationship between coal and the new Promethean spirit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-rifkin/james-watt-patented-his-steam-engine-on-the-eve-of-the-american/) [Jeremy Rifkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-rifkin/) > [The animal frame, though destined to fulfill so many other ends, is as a machine more perfect than the best contrived steam-engine-that is, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-prescott-joule/the-animal-frame-though-destined-to-fulfill-so-many-other-ends-is-as/) [James Prescott Joule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-prescott-joule/) > [There are many points in the history of an invention which the inventor himself is apt to overlook as trifling, but in which posterity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brewster/there-are-many-points-in-the-history-of-an-invention-which-the/) [David Brewster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brewster/) ## More by Thomas Carlyle > [O thou that pinest in the imprisonment of the Actual, and criest bitterly to the gods for a kingdom wherein to rule and create,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/o-thou-that-pinest-in-the-imprisonment-of-the-actual-and-criest/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Whose school-hours are all the days and nights of our existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/whose-school-hours-are-all-the-days-and-nights-of-our-existence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/no-sadder-proof-can-be-given-by-a-man-of-his-own-littleness-than/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such: it is an accident, not a property, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/fame-we-may-understand-is-no-sure-test-of-merit-but-only-a/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The sincere alone can recognize sincerity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-sincere-alone-can-recognize-sincerity/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-glory-of-a-workman-still-more-of-a-master-workman-that-he-does/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [All human things do require to have an ideal in them; to have some soul in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/all-human-things-do-require-to-have-an-ideal-in-them-to-have-some/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Insurrection, never so necessary, is a most sad necessity; and governors who wait for that to instruct them are surely getting into the fatalest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/insurrection-never-so-necessary-is-a-most-sad-necessity-and-governors/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [What is philosophy but a continual battle against custom?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/what-is-philosophy-but-a-continual-battle-against-custom/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Let Time and Chance combine, combine! Let Time and Chance combine! The fairest love from heaven above, That love of yours was mine, My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/let-time-and-chance-combine-combine-let-time-and-chance-combine-the/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Thought will not work except in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/thought-will-not-work-except-in-silence/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The public is anold woman.Let her maunderand mumble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-public-is-anold-woman-let-her-maunderand-mumble/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Does not every true man feel that he is himself made higher by doing reverence to what is really above him?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/does-not-every-true-man-feel-that-he-is-himself-made-higher-by-doing/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [The press is the fourth estate of the realm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-press-is-the-fourth-estate-of-the-realm/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) [Explore all 917 Thomas Carlyle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) ## More Demon quotes > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [I believe that on any trip to heaven, there are always detours through hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-finney/i-believe-that-on-any-trip-to-heaven-there-are-always-detours-through/) [Richard Finney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-finney/) > [I wonder what disgusts you more, the fact that I’m a demon, or the fact that when I touch you, it doesn’t matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larissa-ione/i-wonder-what-disgusts-you-more-the-fact-that-i-m-a-demon-or-the-fact/) [Larissa Ione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larissa-ione/) > [“The demon stopped its frantic attempts to escape. It stared at the glitter and began to pant, fingers twitching in anticipation. More twitching. Faster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jana-oliver/the-demon-stopped-its-frantic-attempts-to-escape-it-stared-at-the/) [Jana Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jana-oliver/) > [“He curled his claw into a fist. "I'd like to shove a stake up that bastard's ass." Adam's lip curled. "Remind me not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaye-wells/he-curled-his-claw-into-a-fist-i-d-like-to-shove-a-stake-up-that/) [Jaye Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaye-wells/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [I’m getting all warm and fuzzy inside at the prospect of these demon things roaming the street, preying on us. (Tate)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-m-getting-all-warm-and-fuzzy-inside-at-the-prospect-of-these-demon/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [For many people it's Facebook, or sports on TV, whatever it is. I have my own demons that I battle. But whatever they are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-walter/for-many-people-it-s-facebook-or-sports-on-tv-whatever-it-is-i-have/) [Jess Walter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-walter/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [In an attempt to hinder, if not altogether halt, the next move of God, Satan has sent forth an army of faultfinding demons against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-frangipane/in-an-attempt-to-hinder-if-not-altogether-halt-the-next-move-of-god/) [Francis Frangipane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-frangipane/) > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-think-we-should-be-very-careful-about-artificial-intelligence-if-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [Evil is the shadow of angel. Just as there are angels of light, support, guidance, healing and defense, so we have experiences of shadow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/evil-is-the-shadow-of-angel-just-as-there-are-angels-of-light-support/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [“I assure you; while I look like a ghost, I'm no spirit or demon. I'm nothing but a girl struggling to make her way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leanna-renee-hieber/i-assure-you-while-i-look-like-a-ghost-i-m-no-spirit-or-demon-i-m/) [Leanna Renee Hieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leanna-renee-hieber/) > [A rollicking good read-THE HUNTER is steampunk with a Wild West feel. Theresa Meyers is an entertaining and witty writer with a fresh, new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmine-galenorn/a-rollicking-good-read-the-hunter-is-steampunk-with-a-wild-west-feel/) [Yasmine Galenorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmine-galenorn/) [Browse all 1,462 Demon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demon/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The steam-engine I call fire-demon and great; but it is nothing to the invention of fire.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Carlyle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-great-but-it-is-nothing-to-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Demon" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-great-but-it-is-nothing-to-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/505/thomas-carlyle-207_demon_the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-g_156371.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/505/thomas-carlyle-207_demon_the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-g_156371.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/505/thomas-carlyle-207_demon_the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-g_156371.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The steam-engine I call fire-demon and great; but it is nothing to the invention of fire.” — Thomas Carlyle", "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 Carlyle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The steam-engine I call fire-demon and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-great-but-it-is-nothing-to-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-steam-engine-i-call-fire-demon-and-great-but-it-is-nothing-to-the/#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 } } ] } ```