Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.
Edwin LandRead
If you are able to state a problem - any problem - and if it is important enough, then the problem can be solved.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Stating a problem clearly is the first step towards finding a solution.
Edwin Land suggests that the ability to articulate a problem is crucial for addressing it. If the issue at hand is significant, identifying and expressing it correctly allows individuals or groups to address it effectively, fostering problem-solving and innovation.
Themes
ProblemSolutionInnovationArticulationImportance
In practice
Example use cases
During a team meeting, this quote can be referenced to encourage open discussion about challenges.
More from Edwin Land
All quotes →Industry is best at the intersection of science and art.
Edwin LandRead
I believe quite simply that the small company of the future will be as much a research organization as it is a manufacturing company.
Edwin LandRead
It is a curious property of research activity that after the problem has been solved the solution seems obvious. This is true not only for those who have not previously been acquainted with the problem, but also for those who have worked over it for years.
Edwin LandRead
My motto is very personal and may not fit anyone else or any other company. It is: Don't do anything that someone else can do. Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.
Edwin LandRead
Work only on problems that are manifestly important and seem to be nearly impossible to solve. That way you will have a natural market for your product and no competition.
Edwin LandRead
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