Industry is best at the intersection of science and art.
Edwin LandRead
Don't undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.
Interpretation
Only take on projects that are both significant and challenging.
This quote by Edwin Land emphasizes the importance of choosing meaningful and ambitious endeavors. By focusing on projects that are crucial and nearly unattainable, we can push ourselves beyond our limits and achieve great things, ensuring that our efforts lead to significant impacts rather than trivial pursuits.
In practice
In a motivational speech to young entrepreneurs, one might use this quote to encourage them to pursue bold ideas.
Industry is best at the intersection of science and art.
I believe quite simply that the small company of the future will be as much a research organization as it is a manufacturing company.
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.
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.
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.
Intense concentration for hour after hour can bring out resources in people that they didn't know they had.
I have far more confidence in the one man who works mentally and bodily at a matter than in the six who merely talk about it.
Get into a line that you will find to be a deep personal interest, something you really enjoy spending twelve to fifteen hours a day working at, and the rest of the time thinking about.
I will keep a smile on my face and in my heart even when it hurts today.
It is better to be lonely than allow people who are not going anywhere keep you from your destiny.
Remind your critics when they say you don't have the expertise or experience to do something that an amateur built the ark and the experts built the Titanic
Mediocrity is my biggest fear. I'm not afraid of total failure because I don't think that will happen. I'm not afraid of success because that beats the hell out of failure. It's being in the middle that scares me.
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