Keep on the lookout for novel ideas that others have used successfully. Your idea has to be original only in its adaptation to the problem you're working on.
Thomas A. EdisonRead
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Innovation often arises from creative thinking and the ability to repurpose existing materials.
In this quote, Thomas A. Edison emphasizes the importance of imagination and resourcefulness in the inventive process. He suggests that great ideas can emerge not just from new materials but from the ability to see potential in what is often considered worthless or discarded, highlighting the critical role of creativity in invention.
Themes
ImaginationInnovationCreativityInventionResourcefulness
In practice
Example use cases
In a startup pitch to highlight the value of creative thinking in product development.
More from Thomas A. Edison
All quotes →If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.
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I am a vegetarian as well as a passionate anti-alcoholic, because I can thus make better use of my brain.
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Genius is not inspired. Inspiration is perspiration.
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I didn't fail 1000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1000 steps.
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There is no substitute for hard work.
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