Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) was a serial inventor that altered people’s lives with his inventions. He held 1,093 patents in his name.
Thomas Alva Edison, along with Henry Ford, were pioneers of the anti-smoking movement. Henry Ford wrote a book in 1914 called “The Case Against the Little White Slaver“. Thomas Alva Edison wrote the foreword which included these words, “I employ no person who smokes cigarettes” The fact that it took almost a century for their viewpoints, even with their immense fame, platform and resources, to become mainstream demonstrates the significant challenges of creating positive changes in society.
Video documentary on Thomas Alva Edison:
Thomas Edison Quotes:
Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward. – Thomas Edison Quotes
Unfortunately, there seems to be far more opportunity out there than ability. We should remember that good fortune often happens when opportunity meets with preparation. – Thomas Edison Quotes
Pretty much everything will come to him who hustles while he waits. I believe that restlessness is discontent, and discontent is merely the first necessity of progress. Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure. – Thomas Edison Quotes
Many of life’s failures are experienced by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up. – Thomas Edison Quotes
I never did anything worth doing entirely by accident…. Almost none of my inventions were derived in that manner. They were achieved by having trained myself to be analytical and to endure and tolerate hard work. – Thomas Edison Quotes
I have far more respect for the person with a single idea who gets there than for the person with a thousand ideas who does nothing. – Thomas Edison
Our schools are not teaching students to think. It is astonishing how many young people have difficulty in putting their brains definitely and systematically to work. – Thomas Edison
Inspiration can be found in a pile of junk. Sometimes, you can put it together with a good imagination and invent something. – Thomas Edison
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. – Thomas Edison
A good idea is never lost. Even though its originator or possessor may die without publicizing it, it will someday be reborn in the mind of another. – Thomas Edison
My principal business consists of giving commercial value to the brilliant, but misdirected, ideas of others. Accordingly, I never pick up an item without thinking of how I might improve it. – Thomas Edison