Who said “I have not failed. I've just found 10, 000 ways that won't work.”?

Paraphrased

Thomas A. Edison, in different words: the idea is theirs, but this popular wording has been altered from the original.

SourceEdison said he knew 'several thousand things that won't work' (Dyer and Martin, Edison: His Life and Inventions, 1910); the '10,000 ways' wording dates from 1982

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“I have not failed. I've just found 10, 000 ways that won't work.”
— Thomas A. Edison
ParaphrasedEdison said he knew 'several thousand things that won't work' (Dyer and Martin, Edison: His Life and Inventions, 1910); the '10,000 ways' wording dates from 1982 · evidenceFailure

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Edison said he knew 'several thousand things that won't work' (Dyer and Martin, Edison: His Life and Inventions, 1910); the '10,000 ways' wording dates from 1982.

APA

Edison, T. A. (n.d.). I have not failed. I've just found 10, 000 ways that won't work. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16249-i-have-not-failed-ive-just-found-10/

MLA

Edison, Thomas A. “I have not failed. I've just found 10, 000 ways that won't work.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16249-i-have-not-failed-ive-just-found-10/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Edison, Thomas A. “I have not failed. I've just found 10, 000 ways that won't work.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/16249-i-have-not-failed-ive-just-found-10/.

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