“ If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses. ”

“ Imagination governs the world. ”

“ The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning. ”

“ Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very;' your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be. ”

“ A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. ”

“ A lady came up to me one day and said 'Sir! You are drunk', to which I replied 'I am drunk today madam, and tomorrow I shall be sober but you will still be ugly. ”

“ To write well, express yourself like the common people, but think like a wise man. ”

“ The progressive development of man is vitally dependent on invention. It is the most important product of his creative brain. ”

“ My method is different. I do not rush into actual work. When I get an idea I start at once building it up in my imagination. I change the construction, make improvements, and operate the device entirely in my mind. ”

“ Invention is the most important product of man's creative brain. The ultimate purpose is the complete mastery of mind over the material world, the harnessing of human nature to human needs. ”

“ I do not think you can name many great inventions that have been made by married men. ”

“ I don't care that they stole my idea . . I care that they don't have any of their own. ”