“I didn’t fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.”
- January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790
- American
- Polymath, Founding Father of the United States, Inventor, Diplomat, Writer
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Quote
“I didn’t fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.”
Explanation
This quote is often misattributed to Benjamin Franklin, but there is no credible historical evidence that he ever said or wrote it. The sentiment aligns more closely with a famous remark by Thomas Edison, who said something similar while working on the electric light bulb: “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Because the attribution to Franklin lacks verification, and it is more properly linked to Edison, no explanation under Franklin’s name should be provided. Attribution accuracy is essential, especially for figures whose legacy is rooted in documented writings and speeches.
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