Thomas Edison on success

The first requisite of success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem without growing weary.

~ Thomas Edison, inventor

Thomas Edison on persistence

Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

~ Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison on making mistakes

I have not failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

~ Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison on opportunity

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

~ Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison on persistence

The first requisite of success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem without growing weary.

~ Thomas Edison, inventor

Thomas A. Edison
1947

Joshua Reynolds on man's impulse to avoid the work of thinking

There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking. 

~ Joshua Reynolds, as quoted by Thomas Edison in "They Won't Think," The Book of Business Wisdom

Thomas Edison on thinking

Why do so many men never amount to anything?  Because they don't think.

The man who doesn't make up his mind to cultivate the habit of thinking misses the greatest pleasure in life.  He not only misses the greatest pleasure, but he can not make the most of himself.  All progress, all success, springs from thinking.

~ Thomas Alva Edison, "They Won't Think," The Book of Business Wisdom

Thomas Edison on progress

Restlessness and discontent are the first necessities of progress.

~ Thomas Alva Edison

Edison's First Lamp
1879-1929