Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.
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Spoken statement (c. 1903); published in Harper's Monthly (September 1932)
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None of my inventions came by accident. I see a worthwhile need to be met and I make trial after trial until it comes. What it boils down to is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration.
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Statement in a press conference (1929), as quoted in Uncommon Friends: Life with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Alexis Carrel & Charles Lindbergh (1987) by James D. Newton, p. 24.Thomas Alva Edison
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Variant forms without early citation: "Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. Accordingly, a 'genius' is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework."
"Genius: one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration."Thomas Alva Edison
That adage about genius being 5 percent inspiration and 95 perspiration - it's true.
Yanni
Everyone recognized that only five percent of all the people born ever amount to anything at all. Everyone humbly thanked his providential stars that through his own personal efforts and merit he had become one of the superior five percent. Everyone looked with pity and contempt upon the ninety-five percent who did not share his grace.
Mark Clifton
It's about two percent movie-making and ninety-eight percent hustling. It's no way to spend a life.
Orson Welles
Edison, Thomas Alva
Edmeades, Eric
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