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RBHubbell58 t1_j1z6mnc wrote

Edison would have been astounded by what little effort it would have taken for him to have been decent to others.

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YoungHeartOldSoul t1_j20vljt wrote

Actually, this quote is borderline satirical given who it's attributed to. I'm pretty sure accomplishing things he was technically capable of is not something Edison is known for specifically.

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cecil021 t1_j20x1t0 wrote

He was capable of stealing other people’s ideas and ruining careers in the process. And it was astounding how good he was at that.

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bobthenormal t1_j2107fs wrote

I think it's right on the nose. Ask any soldier about what war is like. Soldiers are constantly "astounded" with PTSD from seeing the horrendous shit humans are capable of.

Considering Edison's character, I assume this is the way he meant it.

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PacificPragmatic t1_j21rf45 wrote

This is a genius interpretation.

I don't know if there's a subreddit for cautionary quotes, but if so, it should be shared there.

Unless someone is "motivated" to be a mass murderer or something.

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Sandpaper_Pants t1_j1zmegf wrote

Is there a source for where this quote came from? I don't feel Edison was much a purveyor of aspirational quotes. He was kind of a dick.

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MartyFreeze t1_j1zpjc6 wrote

"Bitch, gimme my money!" - Thomas Edison

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WisconsinExPat t1_j20nwzf wrote

“What can we electrocute next?” - Thomas Edison

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Mrwright96 t1_j20q6p9 wrote

“Someone go see what Tesla is making!”

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Clemicus t1_j22ab4s wrote

“Quick, I need more propaganda against AC”

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nviousguy t1_j20gyly wrote

And by "kind of" you mean "absolute giant"

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DrownmeinIslay t1_j21qxd7 wrote

That's a good quote. I INVENTED THAT QUOTE. ME THOMAS EDISON!

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jackinsomniac t1_j2251am wrote

I know Edison gets a lot of (rightful) hate, but he was still an inventor thru-and-thru. People tend to forget that when they jump on the Edison hate-train.

For one, Edison, Tesla, Alexander Bell etc. were all born around the same time because it was peak industrial age, and everybody knew a bunch of wild inventions that had never existed before were now possible.

Edison created his first invention as a teenager, and met up with a businessman who promised to make it possible for him, and a lot of money. The businessman stole the patent for his invention & solely profited off it. Edison learned a lesson VERY early on: the business & legal side of being an inventor is very important.

That's where he got his early business-savvy from. A harsh lesson at his own expense. He vowed to never let it happen again. So when his other inventions started to take off, affording him the ability to create a massive inventors' shop, with a standing order to the library to automatically buy any new books on science or technology and add them to their shelves, it was with one caveat: Edison will own any invention you create with the resources in his shop.

He was still an inventor tho, those crazy stories about chasing the right filament for a lightbulb are true. On his wedding night, he didn't even go to bed to consummate the marriage; he returned to his shop instead. His own children would regularly need to take a plate of dinner to him in his shop because he was "too busy" to sit down at the table with them.

When Nikola Tesla had the tragedy with his shop, Edison carved out a whole corner of his shop for Tesla to exclusively work in... given he agreed to the same standards as all of Edison's other engineers, "he owns everything you create."

Sadly, Edison did start this trend in modern industry: no matter if you're an engineer or a programmer, your employer owns your work. But he was still an inventor. Still did it for the love. And the fact he only started his nasty policies AFTER being screwed over by others the same way, to me affords him at least a little sympathy.

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Sandpaper_Pants t1_j23uh66 wrote

Sorry. My intent wasn't to emphasize that Edison had unlikable characteristics. It was to point out that I'm seriously doubting that this quote is even his. I'd like a source.

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jackinsomniac t1_j26km4u wrote

It's cool, this comment was more in general to everyone, not specifically aimed at you.

I know how it is, in school you get taught about how he's an awesome inventor, but nothing about the bad stuff he did. School focuses all on the lightbulb story, but never mentions the electrocuted elephant. So later in life when people learn about the horrible stuff Edison did, it's like they flip 100% to the opposite side. "It's ALL lies, he NEVER did anything of note! He's just a lying, cheating, stealer!"

But that 180 deg turn in attitude towards Edison isn't completely accurate either. That's all I want to remind people of. Yes, you weren't told the whole truth, but that doesn't invalidate the other facts of his story either. Dude didn't even go to bed with his wife on his wedding night, he HAD to go continue work in his shop instead. That's not something a greedy hedonist does, that's the sign of an overly dedicated man. He's no saint, but he isn't some greedy businessman either, who couldn't care less about inventions. He loved inventing.

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thisismeingradenine t1_j1z1key wrote

Like being a no-talent hack who takes credit for the inventions of other people. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Bifructose t1_j201l1o wrote

Like publicly distributing a snuff film of an elephant being "euthanized"/semi-publicly executed?

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swampfish t1_j20smg8 wrote

Not euthanised. Electrocuted to death.

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Bifructose t1_j2114l1 wrote

I thought the sarcasm was implicit but I'll add quote marks for you.

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chessmasterjj t1_j21opcl wrote

Fun fact. Ben Franklin stole the kite and key trick from someone else as well.

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HappyHighwayman t1_j1zsq45 wrote

Didn’t he steal other peoples inventions ?

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BoulderCreature t1_j200bvf wrote

While also trying to actively ruin the careers of people he couldn’t steal inventions from

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YourBigRosie t1_j22p1de wrote

I’m sure he was astounded with how much he took credit for and got away with

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umassmza t1_j1z0vz9 wrote

I think you will find a lot of hate for Edison on Reddit

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[deleted] t1_j1z46sq wrote

[deleted]

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MrCrash t1_j1zxs83 wrote

Weird take, friend.

Just out of curiosity can you find me one, single, example of a person in 2022 blaming Thomas Alva Edison for their life sucking?

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Deelaxation t1_j20aokf wrote

I hope you understand the downvotes are not proof of your opinion. Edison was a genuinely awful pos and a hack who stole from and/or slandered other better inventors. No one but con artists should look up to him.

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Thanksss123456789 t1_j20df5y wrote

Lol he is unquestionably one of the greatest innovators of all time, as is Jobs. You crying on the internet saying they were mean is not going to change that fact.

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tenodiamonds t1_j20e378 wrote

Its kind of a fact of history that he did though. What's the hard on for Tom Edison all about?

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DarkPattern t1_j20kgq4 wrote

Saying that something is unquestionable in face of questions to that very thing is silly. Make a counter argument instead of just repeating the premise.

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c0ltanheart t1_j1zuzv7 wrote

LMAO Thomas Edison was a plagiarizing thief. This is only a good inspirational poster if you're a grifter.

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Nivekian13 t1_j20arxe wrote

Who did Edison steal that quote from?

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threyon t1_j1zw59q wrote

clutches Tesla’s patents “Mine…”

-Thomas Edison

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Calbinan t1_j1z2fjh wrote

Yeah, I would be astounded, among the other things, if I found out I was capable of stooping to Edison’s level.

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PancakeProfessor t1_j1zx40b wrote

“This guy working for new invented something, so that means I invented it. Right?” -Also Thomas Edison, probably

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MrCrash t1_j1zylh2 wrote

"Haha, it was just a prank, bro!"

-Thomas Edison (when refusing to pay Nikola Tesla what he said he would for his work revising westinghouse's generator designs.)

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Narrow_Lawfulness462 t1_j1zxvlc wrote

"Everyone that understands history knows I'm a Theft committing asswipe that fried an entire elephant to throw shade on a great man"

  • Tommy 'Asswipe' Edison
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truedoom t1_j206apy wrote

Probably stole the quote from someone else 😁

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Bamcanadaktown t1_j20k6o3 wrote

He said while stealing someone else's credit

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Lameduck91 t1_j20qp66 wrote

Just a quick motivation quote from one of the most notorious intellectual property thieves of all time.

"If it doesn't work the first time just steal what does work from someone smarter"

  • Thomas edison
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benhereford t1_j2078fm wrote

Lol this is pretty damn generic, anyone could've said this before Edison.

"We do stuff. It do be good." -Thomas Edison or whatever

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MilitantPacifist13 t1_j20o65l wrote

“I don’t care that they stole my idea. I care that they don’t have any of their own.”- Nikola Tesla

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onlooker61 t1_j20ob3w wrote

I presume edison was talking about electrocuting an elephant when he said that. But he spelt "disgust" incorrectly

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anonbene2 t1_j20bji2 wrote

Don't take advice from a guy that stole everything that made him famous.

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qtquazar t1_j20s662 wrote

Posting inspirational quotes from Edison is like posting patriotic quotes from Goebbels.

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be_sugary t1_j212wsa wrote

Hmmm… wasn’t he accused of theft of ideas … etc?

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IamZeebo t1_j216sh4 wrote

What the bullshit? Lmfao

Edison with the sticky fingers philosophy

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dawson203 t1_j21hbdv wrote

He probably stole that quote lol

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jameswoodruff89 t1_j21kvsn wrote

Strong words for someone who stole Nikola Teslas ideas.

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Blue_Consulting OP t1_j21ohz6 wrote

How do you know?

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jameswoodruff89 t1_j24au2l wrote

Do some research, Edison was a real slimy dude.

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Blue_Consulting OP t1_j24t9ju wrote

I have done research, and it appears that "revisionist history" is back at it again!

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jameswoodruff89 t1_j2dgzin wrote

There is really only one history, I suggest checking your sources.

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BigNorseWolf t1_j2351ta wrote

"You're going to do all the work for me and I'm going to claim all the money and credit" - Thomas Edison, to the army of geeks he employed

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wise_quoter t1_j1z1awh wrote

Sometimes I wonder what I can achieve by trying something new. And sometimes I regret that I did not use my abilities enough

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Moosecovite t1_j204mvk wrote

You're right Mr Edison, I CAN eat that 10 lb burrito!

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Justarandom12bhere t1_j20rye1 wrote

fairly common knowledge Edison was a thief . Are they not still glorifying this criminal in the public school system?

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a_lostsoul t1_j210iw3 wrote

My best friends mistress Kat said he is a fraud

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Prodiuss t1_j2192ox wrote

I'll do that when I know what I'm capable of.

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pogolaugh t1_j2194ku wrote

I gotta start stealing inventions I guess.

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snekks_inmaboot t1_j21bbzq wrote

I've just murdered 8 people, thanks for the inspiration!

/s

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Kemyst t1_j21chsb wrote

Yeah like stealing others inventions as our own

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ScyllaIsBea t1_j21swbh wrote

a quote from a man who took credit for the astounding things others did.

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ds_arcanine t1_j21tpqu wrote

Did he REALLY say that? Or did he steal that too?

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Talik1978 t1_j224q06 wrote

Says the notorious thief.

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Kumoufu t1_j227b9l wrote

Edison was a dick. Should not be celebrated

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Feisty-Business-8311 t1_j22pcee wrote

Actual quote:

If I did the things Tesla is capable of, I would astound myself - Thomas Edison

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talentkills t1_j235pqo wrote

It's weird that Edison is always associated with the light bulb. Who is his PR person?

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salle132 t1_j237mvn wrote

Thomas the THIEF.

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Grigoran t1_j20rzmi wrote

Edison stole this quote and said he said it. Fuck Thomas Edison, all my homes hate Thomas Edison.

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Areyoukiddingme2 t1_j20vrcf wrote

Edison was an Invention thief and, for the most part, just took credit for other peoples work! Thought you should know.....

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TheTjalian t1_j21cb1z wrote

Makes me feel better for that one time I electrocuted an elephant to prove a point that wasn't correct at all

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13Damien13 t1_j225awt wrote

Yea like fucking over Nicola eh? Eddi boi?

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LaughingPelican t1_j22oyg0 wrote

Coming from a guy who stole a bunch of shit from other people it's ironic as fuck

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Sundaver t1_j22x2qg wrote

Edison stole/bought this quote if it is even applicable

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FeelsSadMan01 t1_j22xzvb wrote

Why do people still celebrate people like this

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Mrpjspencer t1_j230x70 wrote

Set a course for Earth, Maximum Warp - GANDALF

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benadrylpill t1_j23cmha wrote

"If we stole the things we wouldn't be capable of creating ourselves and get away with it, we would astound everyone else."

Thomas "I'm a huge dick" Edison

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Blue_Consulting OP t1_j23mf8u wrote

I'm sorry, did you know him?

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benadrylpill t1_j23mk56 wrote

No, I read. You know, reading? Books? Ring any bells?

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Blue_Consulting OP t1_j24td54 wrote

Interesting. You don't trust one book and yet trust another.

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MrMaxiorwus t1_j23pb21 wrote

"Hippity, hoppity your patents are my property" - Thomas Edison

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Prize_Huckleberry_79 t1_j21cfab wrote

I’m willing to be that not a single person here has read an actual book about Edison, and learned everything they know about him from some YouTube vid or Tesla fanboy page.

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lucpet t1_j22o68x wrote

Hey come and work for me so I can claim your invention as my own.

I wouldn't cross the street to piss in that guys ear if his brain was on fire.

Are you sure this isn't an un motivational page?

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BowlingKang7643 t1_j22u8xw wrote

Yes That's Right We Would Take Chances In Life Even If It Was To Hard We Will Still Try Our Best!

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RanCestor t1_j1zfdav wrote

If they let us do things we are capable of they would be amazed of us.

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