Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. — Thomas Edison | Printable Wall Art

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.”

Words by Thomas Edison (1847-1931) — Inventor and businessman, holder of over 1,000 patents including the light bulb.

About this quote

This famous line suggests that true achievement relies far more on hard work than on sudden flashes of insight. While a good idea is necessary to start a project, it is the long hours of effort, trial, and stubborn persistence that actually bring it to fruition. Brilliant thoughts mean little without the disciplined labour required to test and refine them.

Edison expressed variants of this statement in interviews during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was widely published in newspapers and magazines around 1902, becoming a defining summary of his relentless work ethic.

People often hang this print in a home office or workshop to encourage perseverance during demanding projects.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.