You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere.
Charles KetteringRead
Inventing is a combination of brains and materials. The more brains you use, the less material you need.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Inventing involves creativity and resourcefulness; using intelligence can reduce the necessity for physical materials.
In this quote, Charles Kettering emphasizes the important relationship between intellect and innovation. He suggests that the more we rely on our cognitive abilities—the 'brains' we utilize—the less we need to depend on physical inputs or materials to create something new. This highlights the power of ideas and creativity in the invention process, implying that innovative thinking is often more valuable than the resources at hand.
Themes
InventingCreativityInnovationIntelligenceResourcefulness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about innovation at a tech conference.
More from Charles Kettering
All quotes →It is the 'follow through' that makes the great difference between ultimate success and failure, because it is so easy to stop.
Charles KetteringRead
When I was research head of General Motors and wanted a problem solved, I'd place a table outside the meeting room with a sign: "Leave slide rules here." If I didn't do that, I'd find someone reaching for his slide rule. Then he'd be on his feet saying, "Boss, you can't do it."
Charles KetteringRead
A research problem is not solved by apparatus; it is solved in a man's head.
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My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.
Charles KetteringRead
I often say that research is a way of finding out what you are going to do when you can't keep on doing what you are doing now.
Charles KetteringRead
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