A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with – a man is what he makes of himself.
When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.
Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.
Great discoveries and improvements invariably involve the cooperation of many minds. I may be given credit for having blazed the trail, but when I look at the subsequent developments I feel the credit is due to others rather than to myself.
Man is an animal which, alone among the animals, refuses to be satisfied by the fulfillment of animal desires.
Observe, Remember, Compare.
I have had the feeling that a properly constructed flying-machine should be capable of being flown as a kite; and conversely, that a properly constructed kite should be capable of use as a flying-machine when driven by its own propellers.
Washington is no place in which to carry out inventions.
Night is a more quiet time to work. It aids thought.
Neither the Army nor the Navy is of any protection, or very little protection, against aerial raids.
First words on the first telephone – “Mr. Watson – come here – I want to see you.”
The final result of our researches has widened the class of substances sensitive to light vibrations, until we can propound the fact of such sensitiveness being a general property of all matter.
Ordinary people who know nothing of phonetics or elocution have difficulties in understanding slow speech composed of perfect sounds, while they have no difficulty in comprehending an imperfect gabble if only the accent and rhythm are natural.
One day there will be a telephone in every major city in the USA.
Man is the result of slow growth; that is why he occupies the position he does in animal life. What does a pup amount to that has gained its growth in a few days or weeks, beside a man who only attains it in as many years.
I have travelled around the globe. I have seen the Canadian and American Rockies, the Andes, the Alps and the Highlands of Scotland, but for simple beauty, Cape Breton outrivals them all!
One day every major city in America will have a telephone.
There cannot be mental atrophy in any person who continues to observe, to remember what he observes, and to seek answers for his unceasing hows and whys about things.
Wherever you may find the inventor, you may give him wealth or you may take from him all that he has; and he will go on inventing. He can no more help inventing than he can help thinking or breathing.
Don’t keep forever on the public road, going only where others have gone.