天才等於百分之一的靈感,加百分之九十九的汗水。
Genius is one per cent inspiration, ninety-nine per cent perspiration.
這是愛迪生大約在1903年所說的一句話,發表在1932年9月美國的哈潑月刊(Harper's Monthly)上。
另一個出處是1929年的一次新聞發佈會上,愛迪生說:“我沒有一項發明是碰巧得來的。當看到了一個值得人們投入精力、物力的社會需求有待滿足後,我就一次又一次地做實驗,直到它化為現實。這得最終得歸於百分之一的靈感和百分之九十九的汗水。”這些話在一部1999年的英語教育紀錄片《20世紀的不同尋常的朋友》(Uncommon Friends of the Twentieth Century)中被引用到。
英文原文: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.
此外該名言還有一些變體,例如“天才:百分之一的靈感和百分之九十九的汗水。”
Genius: one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.
我的人生哲學就是工作。
My philosophy of life is work.
我想揭示大自然的秘密,用來造福人類。我認為,在我們的短暫一生中,最好的貢獻莫過於此了。
I want to bring out the secrets of nature and apply them for the happiness of man. I don't know of any better service to offer for the short time we are in the world.
有所成就是人生唯一的真正的樂趣。
Achievement provides the only real pleasure in life.
如果你希望成功,當以恆心為良友、以經驗為參謀、以謹慎為兄弟、以希望為哨兵。
If you wish to succeed, you should use perdistence as your good friend, experiece as your reference, prudence as your brother and hope as your sentry.
如果你年輕時沒有學會思考,那就永遠學不會思考。
If you don't learn to think when you are young, you may never learn.