“To have a great idea, have a lot of them.”
- February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931
- European American
- Inventor and businessman
- The “king of inventors” who obtained over 1,000 patents, including the practical application of the incandescent light bulb
Quote
“To have a great idea, have a lot of them.”
Explanation
In this quote, Edison emphasizes that innovation and creativity are not about waiting for a single perfect idea but rather about generating numerous ideas and seeing where they lead. He suggests that the more ideas you have, the greater your chances of finding something truly transformative. Edison’s own work was a testament to this, as he often worked on a variety of projects at once, constantly refining and revising his ideas. His approach highlights that great inventions and discoveries are often the result of trial and error, and that even ideas that don’t immediately seem promising can eventually lead to breakthroughs.
In today’s world, this mindset is especially valuable in industries such as technology, entrepreneurship, and art. Innovation thrives when individuals or teams are willing to experiment and explore a wide range of ideas. For example, in tech development, many successful products—like the iPhone or social media platforms—were the result of numerous ideas, iterations, and pivots, with early concepts often evolving into something much larger than originally envisioned. Edison’s perspective encourages modern innovators to embrace creativity and persistence, not being discouraged if initial ideas don’t immediately work out.
On a personal level, Edison’s quote can be a reminder that ideas aren’t limited—they can be cultivated and expanded by consistently thinking, questioning, and experimenting. Whether in your career, personal goals, or creative pursuits, generating a broad range of ideas allows you to refine and improve upon them over time. It’s a reminder that great achievements often don’t come from a single moment of inspiration but from a process of continuous ideation and the willingness to explore and fail along the way. By having many ideas, you increase your chances of finding something truly remarkable.
