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People Are Not Remembered By How Few Times They Fail, But By How Often They Succeed. Every Wrong Step Is Another Step Forward
-Thomas A. Edison
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People Are Not Remembered

Thomas A. Edison
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People Are Not Remembered By How Few Times They Fail, But By How Often They Succeed. Every Wrong Step Is Another Step Forward

Understanding the Quote: "people are not remembered by how few times they fail, but by..."

This quote by Thomas A. Edison reflects deeply on the theme of people. It connects to the universal human journey of purpose, motivation, and reflection. Often categorized under People, Succeed, Steps, the quote offers insight, emotional clarity, and intellectual inspiration to readers worldwide.

Whether you’re a student exploring new ideas, a leader trying to motivate your team, or someone seeking direction in life — this quote provides value. It resonates because it’s more than words — it’s a bridge between experience and wisdom. It shows how Thomas A. Edison interprets life's core challenges and triumphs.

Lessons From the Quote

This quote teaches resilience and focus. It reminds readers that no matter where they stand in life, reflection and self-awareness lead to growth. Each word has meaning, and when studied, it becomes clear how impactful thoughtful language can be.

About Thomas A. Edison

Thomas A. Edison is celebrated for insightful thoughts on people and succeed. Their legacy lives on through writings that guide, comfort, and inspire. Discover more on their profile page.

Actionable Takeaways

  • Reflect on how this quote applies to your current life path.
  • Share the message with someone who needs inspiration.
  • Write your thoughts on this quote in a journal or blog post.
  • Use it as a daily affirmation or reminder.

Closing Thoughts

Quotes like this endure because they capture universal truths. They comfort us in solitude and empower us in groups. Carry this quote forward — live by its wisdom, share its message, and keep its essence alive.

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People
Succeed
Steps
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Darkness
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Work
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Never Stop Learning
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Motivational
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Purpose
Sticking To It Is The Genius.
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Ignorance
Knowledge
Because I Readily Absorb Ideas From Every Source - Frequently Starting Where The Last Person Left Off - I Never Pick Up An Item Without Thinking Of How I Might Improve It.
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Thinking
Ideas
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Education
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Motivational
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Way
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Two
Flying
A Failure Teaches You That Something Can't Be Done-that Way.
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Done
Way
I Never Perfected An Invention That I Did Not Think About In Terms Of The Service It Might Give Others... I Find Out What The World Needs, Then I Proceed To Invent.
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Motivational
Creativity
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Ideas
Mind
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Inspirational
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Motivational
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Inspirational
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Last Words
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Talent
Stranger
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Motivational
Hands
Ideas
Focus On How The End-user Customers Perceive The Impact Of Your Innovation - Rather Than On How You, The Innovators, Perceive It.
Impact
Focus
Innovation
Interest Is The Invention Of Satan.
Satan
Invention
Interest
Waste Is Worse Than Loss. The Time Is Coming When Every Person Who Lays Claim To Ability Will Keep The Question Of Waste Before Him Constantly. The Scope Of Thrift Is Limitless.
Time
Loss
Lost Friendship
The Great Trouble Is That The Preachers Get The Children From Six To Seven Years Of Age And Then It Is Almost Impossible To Do Anything With Them.
Children
Years
Religion
Genius Is Not Inspired. Inspiration Is Perspiration.
Inspiration
Hard Work
Science
It Is Absurd To Say That Our Country Can Issue $30,000,000 In Bonds And Not $30,000,000 In Currency. Both Are Promises To Pay; But One Promise Fattens The Usurer (banker), And The Other Helps The People. If The Currency Issued By The Government Were No Good, Then The Bonds Issued Would Be No Good Either. It Is A Terrible Situation When The Government, To Increase The National Wealth, Must Go Into Debt And Submit To Ruinous Interest Charges At The Hands Of Men Who Control The Fictitious Values Of Gold.
Country
Men
Issues
Good Fortune Is What Happens When Opportunity Meets With Planning.
Opportunity
Optimism
Luck
Being Busy Does Not Always Mean Real Work. The Object Of All Work Is Production Or Accomplishment And To Either Of These Ends There Must Be Forethought, System, Planning, Intelligence, And Honest Purpose, As Well As Perspiration. Seeming To Do Is Not Doing.
Inspirational
Motivational
Real
People Who Will Not Turn A Shovel Full Of Dirt On The Project (muscle Shoals Dam) Nor Contribute A Pound Of Material, Will Collect More Money From The United States Than Will The People Who Supply All The Material And Do All The Work. This Is The Terrible Thing About Interest.
People
United States
Dams
I Have Always Consistently Opposed High-tension And Alternating Systems Of Electric Lighting...not Only On Account Of Danger, But Because Of Their General Unreliability And Unsuitability For Any General System Of Distribution.
Unreliability
Danger
Tension
If Parents Pass Enthusiasm Along To Their Children, They Will Leave Them An Estate Of Incalculable Value
Motivational
Family
Education
We Are Like Tenant Farmers Chopping Down The Fence Around Our House For Fuel When We Should Be Using Nature's Inexhaustible Sources Of Energy - Sun, Wind And Tide. ... I'd Put My Money On The Sun And Solar Energy. What A Source Of Power! I Hope We Don't Have To Wait Until Oil And Coal Run Out Before We Tackle That.
Running
Nature
Wind
It Is Remarkable To What Lengths People Will Go To Avoid Thought.
People
Length
Remarkable
I'll Try Anything...i'll Even Try Limburger Cheese!
Trying
Cheese
Problems In Human Engineering Will Receive During The Coming Years The Same Genius And Attention Which The Nineteenth Century Gave To The More Material Forms Of Engineering. We Have Laid Good Foundations For Industrial Prosperity, Now We Want To Assure The Happiness And Growth Of The Workers Through Vocational Education, Vocational Guidance, And Wisely Managed Employment Departments. A Great Field For Industrial Experimentation And Statemanship Is Opening Up.
Science
Engineering
Years
The Dove Is My Emblem.
Technology
Dove
Emblems
I Have Not Failed. I've Just Found 10,000 Ways That Won't Work.
Inspirational
Funny
Motivational
Before You Reject An Idea, Find At Least Five Good Things About It.
Ideas
Imagination
Good Things
There Will One Day Spring From The Brain Of Science A Machine Or Force So Fearful In Its Potentialities, So Absolutely Terrifying, That Even Man, The Fighter, Who Will Dare Torture And Death In Order To Inflict Torture And Death, Will Be Appalled, And So Abandon War Forever.
Peace
Fear
Spring
Accomplishing Something Provides The Only Real Satisfaction In Life.
Real
Satisfaction In Life
Satisfaction
I Would Construct And Work Along Various Lines Until I Found Them Untenable. When One Theory Was Discarded, I Developed Another At Once. I Realized Very Early That This Was The Only Possible Way For Me To Work Out All The Problems.
Adventure
Work Out
Lines
Friendship Is The Heaven Of Life.
Heaven
I Never Once Failed At Making A Light Bulb. I Just Found Out 99 Ways Not To Make One.
Light
Way
Found
The Three Things That Are Most Essential To Achievement Are Common Sense, Hard Work And Stick-to-it-iv-ness... Unfortunately, Many Of Life's Failures Are Experienced By People Who Did Not Realize How Close They Were To Success When They Gave Up. I Have Far More Respect For The Person With A Single Idea Who Gets There Than For The Person With A Thousand Ideas Who Does Nothing.
Hard Work
Adventure
Ideas
Incurably Religious, That Is The Best Way To Describe The Mental Condition Of So Many People.
Religious
People
Atheism
Remember, Life Is All What You Focus On. Learn Lessons And Keep Moving Forward Towards Your Goals And Dreams... "i Have Not Failed. I've Just Found 10,000 Ways That Won't Work."
Dream
Moving
Goal
Genius Is 1 Percent Inspiration, 99 Percent Perspiration.
Inspirational
Educational
Genius
Invention Is 1% Inspiration And 99% Perspiration
Inspiration
Invention
Perspiration
To Invent, You Need A Good Imagination And A Pile Of Junk.
Inspirational
Science
Imagination Creativity
Somewhere Between The Ages Of Eleven And Fifteen, The Average Child Begins To Suffer From An Atrophy, The Paralysis Of Curiosity And The Suspension Of The Power To Observe. The Trouble, I Should Judge, To Lie With The Schools.
Children
Lying
School
Genius Defined: Of Inspiration 1% Percent, Of Perspiration, 99%.
Inspiration
Genius
Percent
I Never Pick Up An Item Without Thinking Of How I Might Improve It. I Never Perfected An Invention That I Did Not Think About In Terms Of The Service It Might Give Others. I Want To Save And Advance Human Life, Not Destroy It. I Am Proud Of The Fact That I Never Invented Weapons To Kill. The Dove Is My Emblem.
Technology
Thinking
Giving
Opportunity Is Missed By Most People Because It Is Dressed In Overalls And Looks Like Work.
Funny
Life
Motivational
Nearly Every Man Who Develops An Idea Works It Up To The Point Where It Looks Impossible, And Then He Gets Discouraged. That's Not The Place To Become Discouraged.
Motivational
Positive
Perseverance
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