I never did anything worth doing by accident, nor did any of my inventions come indirectly through accident, except the phonograph.
Meaning
Edison told an interviewer in 1898 that his results came from deciding a goal was worthwhile and then making trial after trial. For your own goals, drop the wait for luck: write the target, list three small experiments, and run one each day.
Source: Success magazine interview (February 1898)
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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