The first requisite for success is to develop the ability to focus and apply your mental and physical energies to the problem at hand - without growing weary. Because such thinking is often difficult, there seems to be no limit to which some people will go to avoid the effort and labor that is associated with it.

I have friends in overalls whose friendship I would not swap for the favor of the kings of the world.

We are striking it big in the electric light, better than my vivid imagination first conceived. Where this thing is going to stop Lord only knows.

A diamond is a piece of coal that stuck to the job

I know of over 3,000 ways [that] a light bulb does not work.

We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything.

The thing I lose patience with the most is the clock. Its hands move too fast