Through all the years of experimenting and research, I never once made a discovery. I start where the last man left off. ... All my work was deductive, and the results I achieved were those of invention pure and simple.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Edison claims his work was deductive invention based on prior work rather than new discovery.
- In plain terms
- He says he built on what others found instead of discovering new things.
- What can you take from it?
- Build on past knowledge rather than seeking original discovery.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is invention different from discovery?
- How much stands on others' shoulders?
Another view
It downplays the novelty often required for true discovery.
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