“Anything that won’t sell, I don’t want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.”
- 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
table of contents
Quote
“Anything that won’t sell, I don’t want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success.”
Explanation
In this quote, Edison emphasizes the importance of practical utility in the value of an invention. He believed that an idea or product’s true success was measured by whether it could be marketed and used by people. For Edison, the ability to sell an invention was proof that it served a real purpose and met a need in society. This perspective underscores his entrepreneurial mindset, where the commercial success of an invention was just as important as its creative or technical merit. Edison recognized that for an invention to have lasting value, it had to be useful to the public, which meant that its marketability was a critical measure of its worth.
This idea is especially relevant in today’s world, where the success of technology and innovation is often determined by how well a product or service meets consumer needs. Many modern startups and tech companies, for instance, focus not only on developing cutting-edge products but also on ensuring those products are useful and appealing to the market. Products like smartphones, wearables, and apps that solve real-life problems or improve daily life are prime examples of inventions that combine creativity with practical utility to achieve commercial success. Edison’s quote reminds us that market acceptance is an important test of an invention’s value, and true success comes from being able to translate ideas into useful, consumer-friendly products.
On a personal level, this quote can inspire us to focus on the practical application of our ideas and efforts. Whether we are working on a business, creative project, or personal goal, Edison’s words encourage us to consider whether what we are creating truly serves a purpose or solves a problem for others. By ensuring that our work has real-world utility, we increase its chances of being valuable and successful. It’s a reminder that the most impactful ideas are not just creative, but also functional and practical in addressing the needs of those they aim to serve.
