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“I think it cannot be done. No balloon and no aeroplane will ever be practically successful.”

Source: *The Newark Advocate*, April 26, 1902.
https://zapatopi.net/kelvin/papers/interview_aeronautics_and_wireless.html

Last update April 26, 2026. History

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Do you have more details about the quote "I think it cannot be done. No balloon and no aeroplane will ever be practically successful." by William Thomson?

William Thomson19

British physicist and engineer 1824–1907

Gene Fowler (1890–1960) American journalist

Skyline: A Reporter's Reminiscence of the 1920s (1961); as cited by Jonathon Green (1988) Says who?: a guide to the quotations of the century. p. 308

“But the facts are unquestioned. The aeroplane does these things, and if the theory does not give warranty for the practice, then it is the theory which is wrong.”

John William Dunne (1875–1949) British soldier, aeronautical engineer and philosopher

Lecture to the Royal Aeronautical Society (1913)

“Now that I have done it, I don't think I'll ever go back.”

Maxfield Parrish (1870–1966) American painter and illustrator

Letter to Gertrude Whitney (8 April 1914)
Context: Thank you for allowing me to use colors as rich and deep as you please. I had always wanted to do so, yet was never allowed because of the color capabilities of our lithographers today. Now that I have done it, I don't think I'll ever go back.

“I think it’s incredible and I think I had a breakthrough in my acting career. I did something that I had never done before and to me, at least, it was quite successful.”

Tony Leung (1962) Hong Kong actor

"Lust, Caution – Tony Leung interview" (2007) https://tonyleung.info/tony/?p=237

“You know, I think this is the first time we've ever done anything normal together.”

Suzanne Collins book Catching Fire

Source: Catching Fire

“When I think of all the harm [the Bible] has done, I despair of ever writing anything to equal it.”

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish writer and poet

“The way to success is only three things; practice, practice and practice.”

Reza Goodary (1988) Mixed martial artist

Source: Unfortunately, this perspective often causes us to become overwhelmed when it's time to start a project. It is not right to step on the heads of others to elevate yourself. Living in exile has its difficulties enough. So let us be proud with one heart, together and under the flag of our beloved country. https://www.ilna.news/fa/tiny/news-1126280 ILNA News, (September 4, 2021)

“You think we're dancing?"

"That's all we've ever done.”

Joss Whedon (1964) American director, writer, and producer for television and film

“Human work must be done thoroughly and honourably because we are now men; whether we ever expect to be angels, or ever were slugs, being practically no matter.”

John Ruskin book Fors Clavigera

Fors Clavigera, letter lxxvi (4 March 1877).
Fors Clavigera (1871-1878 and 1880-1884)

“We cannot think any true thought unless we want the true. Thinking is itself an aspect of practice.”

Theodor W. Adorno (1903–1969) German sociologist, philosopher and musicologist known for his critical theory of society

Source: Lectures on Negative Dialectics (1965-66), p. 45

“I think it cannot be done. No balloon and no aeroplane will ever be practically successful.”

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

William Thomson19

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