Want, the mistress of invention.

Want, the mistress of invention.

Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking
what nobody else has thought.

Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking
what nobody else has thought.

The golden hour of invention must terminate like other hours, and
when the man of genius returns to the read more

The golden hour of invention must terminate like other hours, and
when the man of genius returns to the cares, the duties, the
vexations, and the amusements of life, his companions behold him
as one of themselves--the creature of habits and infirmities.

Take the advice of a faithful friend, and submit thy inventions
to his censure.

Take the advice of a faithful friend, and submit thy inventions
to his censure.

We issued gorged with knowledge, and I spoke:
"Why, Sirs, they do all this as well as we."
read more

We issued gorged with knowledge, and I spoke:
"Why, Sirs, they do all this as well as we."
"They hunt old trails" said Cyril, "very well;
But when did woman ever yet invent?"

Our inventions mirror our secret wishes.

Our inventions mirror our secret wishes.

She has a housewife's hand; but that's no matter:
I say she never did invent this letter;
read more

She has a housewife's hand; but that's no matter:
I say she never did invent this letter;
This is a man's invention and his hand.

Electric telegraphs, printing, gas,
Tobacco, balloons, and steam,
Are little events that have come to pass
read more

Electric telegraphs, printing, gas,
Tobacco, balloons, and steam,
Are little events that have come to pass
Since the days of the old regime.
And, spite of Lempriere's dazzling page,
I'd give--though it might seem bold--
A hundred years of the Golden Age
For a year of the Age of Gold.

Everything that can be invented has been invented.

Everything that can be invented has been invented.