Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article on it
Mark TwainRead
Name the greatest of all inventors. Accident.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Accidents can lead to significant inventions and breakthroughs.
Mark Twain's quote suggests that many of the greatest inventions in history were not the result of deliberate planning but rather occurred by chance. This highlights the importance of serendipity in innovation, showing that unexpected occurrences can ignite creativity and lead to profound advancements.
Themes
InventionAccidentInnovationCreativitySerendipity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about innovation, one might use this quote to emphasize that not all great discoveries are planned.
More from Mark Twain
All quotes βThe easy part of being an artist is figuring out the message that everyone else is ready to hear. The hard part is waiting for the proper lull to make the announcement.
Mark TwainRead
You can't reason with your heart; it has its own laws, and thumps about things which the intellect scorns.
Mark TwainRead
To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble.
Mark TwainRead
In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.
Mark TwainRead
Some things you can't find out; but you will never know you can't by guessing and supposing: no, you have to be patient and go on experimenting until you find out that you can't find out.
Mark TwainRead
Similar quotes
Science without conscience is the death of the soul.
Francois RabelaisRead
Based on the science, you can make somewhat clear statements: The number of people who can survive on six hours of sleep without impairment is zero.
Matthew WalkerRead
In speaking of the Energy of the field, however, I wish to be understood literally. All energy is the same as mechanical energy, whether it exists in the form of motion or in that of elasticity, or in any other form. The energy in electromagnetic phenomena is mechanical energy.
James Clerk MaxwellRead
I sometimes think that the universe is a machine designed for the perpetual astonishment of astronomers.
Arthur C. ClarkeRead
As life forms, viruses are just inherently interesting. It's the microworld - this universe of life too small for us to see - but it's profoundly complicated, and immensely powerful. Ebola is like a beautiful and frightening predator. There is a wonder in the operations of nature that can't be denied, even when we're the losers.
Richard PrestonRead
Wherever there is a design that is highly successful in a broad range of similar environments, it is apt to emerge again and again, independently - the phenomenon known in biology as convergent evolution. I call these designs 'good tricks.'
Daniel DennettRead