Edison

Another of my childhood heroes was Thomas A. Edison. He invented an amazing variety of products that are indispensable to us today. An inventor, scientist, and businessman, he invented the phonograph, motion picture camera, electric light bulb, many telecommunications advancements, and electric power generation and distribution. One of the most prolific inventors in history, he holds 1093 U.S. patents in his name. One of the companies he founded became General Electric (GE), the largest publicly traded company in the world.
When we were in Florida we visited his winter home and laboratory in Ft. Meyers. There he tried to find a domestic source of natural rubber. He planted all kinds of exotic plants on his estate to experiment with. He worked with his good friend Harvey Firestone and his winter neighbor Henry Ford.

Some Quotes from Mr. Edison:

"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration!"

"Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits."

"You will have many opportunities in life to keep your mouth shut: You should take advantage of every one of them."

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."

"Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can't afford to lose."

"Life's most soothing things are a child's goodnight and sweet music."

"Great ideas originate in the muscles."

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work."