Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.
Meaning
Reported in a 1908 biography of the inventor, the line argues that waiting is no excuse for idleness. While you wait for a reply, a loan or a break, use the gap: practice a skill, tidy a draft, or prepare the next step so you are ready when the moment arrives.
Source: Thomas Alva Edison: Sixty Years of an Inventor's Life (1908)
About the author
(1847–1931) was an American inventor and businessman who developed many important devices, including the electric light bulb and phonograph. He held over 1,000 patents and played a key role in industrial innovation. Edison’s work transformed technology and daily life. His persistence and creativity made him a symbol of invention. Thomas Edison’s legacy continues to influence science and industry.
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