People take the longest possible paths, digress to numerous dead ends, and make all kinds of mistakes. Then historians come along and write summaries of this messy, nonlinear process and make it appear like a simple, straight line.

Quote by Dean Kamen

Topics: Dean Kamen Quotes

Most of the time you will fail, but you will also occasionally succeed. Those occasional...

Most of the time you will fail, but you will also occasionally succeed. Those occasional...

I consider high-speed data transmission an invention that became a major innovation. It changed the...

I consider high-speed data transmission an invention that became a major innovation. It changed the...

To me, innovations are the wheel, fire, language, movable type. There are not 3 million...

To me, innovations are the wheel, fire, language, movable type. There are not 3 million...

A patent, or invention, is any assemblage of technologies or ideas that you can put...

A patent, or invention, is any assemblage of technologies or ideas that you can put...

I do not want to waste any time. And if you are not working on...

I do not want to waste any time. And if you are not working on...

Sometimes we crash and burn. It's better to do it in private.

Sometimes we crash and burn. It's better to do it in private.

If you're going to fail, you might as well fail at the big ones.

If you're going to fail, you might as well fail at the big ones.

New ideas in technology are literally a dime-a-dozen, or cheaper than that.

New ideas in technology are literally a dime-a-dozen, or cheaper than that.

As we move towards 8 or 10 billion people on the planet, there's a little...

As we move towards 8 or 10 billion people on the planet, there's a little...

My biggest failure is I have too many to talk about.

My biggest failure is I have too many to talk about.

I'm a human entropy producer.

I'm a human entropy producer.

I don't want to think about how many people have thought or still think that...

I don't want to think about how many people have thought or still think that...

I think an education is not only important, it is the most important thing you...

I think an education is not only important, it is the most important thing you...

My biggest worry is I'm running out of time and energy. Thirty years ago I...

My biggest worry is I'm running out of time and energy. Thirty years ago I...

The city needs a car like a fish needs a bicycle.

The city needs a car like a fish needs a bicycle.

In some cases, inventions prohibit innovation because we're so caught up in playing with the...

In some cases, inventions prohibit innovation because we're so caught up in playing with the...

I started realizing that I wasn't so dumb; rather, most people simply didn't know the...

I started realizing that I wasn't so dumb; rather, most people simply didn't know the...

Some broad themes brought me where I am today. At a very young age, my...

Some broad themes brought me where I am today. At a very young age, my...

I don't work on a project unless I believe that it will dramatically improve life...

I don't work on a project unless I believe that it will dramatically improve life...

You have teenagers thinking they're going to make millions as NBA stars when that's not...

You have teenagers thinking they're going to make millions as NBA stars when that's not...