Elihu Thomson Quotes

Elihu Thomson was an English-born American engineer and inventor who was instrumental in the founding of major electrical companies in the United States, the United Kingdom and France. Wikipedia  

✵ 29. March 1853 – 13. March 1937
Elihu Thomson photo
Elihu Thomson: 1   quote 0   likes

Elihu Thomson Quotes

“Publish an invention freely, and it will almost surely die from lack of interest in its development”

Elihu Thomas lays down principles for inventors, by Thomas, E., Electrical World 75 (1920), p. 1505.
Context: Shall an invention be patented or donated to the public freely? I have known some well-meaning scientific men … to look askance at the patenting of inventions, as if it were a rather selfish and ungracious act, essentially unworthy. The answer is very simple. Publish an invention freely, and it will almost surely die from lack of interest in its development. It will not be developed and the world will not be benefited. Patent it, and if valuable, it will be taken up and developed into a business.

Similar authors

Guglielmo Marconi photo
Guglielmo Marconi 3
Italian inventor and radio pioneer
Nikola Tesla photo
Nikola Tesla 125
Serbian American inventor
Jack Kilby photo
Jack Kilby 1
American electrical engineer
Carlo Rubbia photo
Carlo Rubbia 1
Italian particle physicist
Arthur C. Clarke photo
Arthur C. Clarke 207
British science fiction writer, science writer, inventor, u…
Margaret Atwood photo
Margaret Atwood 348
Canadian writer
William S. Burroughs photo
William S. Burroughs 110
American novelist, short story writer, essayist, painter, a…
Toni Morrison photo
Toni Morrison 184
American writer
Albert A. Michelson photo
Albert A. Michelson 5
American physicist
Tennessee Williams photo
Tennessee Williams 139
American playwright