Learn to do common things uncommonly well; we must always keep in mind that anything that helps fill the dinner pail is valuable.

I went to the trash pile at Tuskegee Institute and started my laboratory with bottles, old fruit jars and any other thing I found I could use. ... [The early efforts were] worked out almost wholly on top of my flat topped writing desk and with teacups, glasses, bottles and reagents I made myself.

All my life I have risen regularly at four o'clock and have gone into the woods and talked to God. There He gives me my orders for the day.

Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.

One reason I never patent my products is that if I did it would take so much time, I would get nothing else done. But mainly I don't want my discoveries to benefit specific favored persons.

Fear of something is at the root of hate for others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater.

Start where you are, with what you have. Make something of it and never be satisfied.