Spoken statement (c. 1903); published in Harper"s Monthly (September 1932)
1903年所說的一句話，發表在1932年9月美國的哈潑月刊（Harper"s Monthly）上。
還有幾個版本：
None of my inventions came by accident. I see a worthwhile need to be met and I make trial after trial until it comes. What it boils down to is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration.
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. Accordingly, a "genius" is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.
愛迪生確實說過類似的話。似乎也流傳著還有所謂的後半句～ “百分之一的靈感比那百分之九十九的汗水更重要” 前一句的英文原文：“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
在英文的維基語錄裡有這樣的記錄：http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison
Spoken statement (c. 1903); published in Harper"s Monthly (September 1932)
1903年所說的一句話，發表在1932年9月美國的哈潑月刊（Harper"s Monthly）上。
還有幾個版本：
None of my inventions came by accident. I see a worthwhile need to be met and I make trial after trial until it comes. What it boils down to is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration.
我沒有一項發明是碰巧得來的。當看到了一個值得人們投入精力、物力的社會需求有待滿足後，我就一次又一次地做實驗，直到它化為現實。這得最終得歸於百分之一的靈感和百分之九十九的汗水。
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. Accordingly, a "genius" is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.
這個版本的前半句一樣，後面多的這半句大意是“因此，天才不過是一個經常能完成自己工作的聰明人而已”。也沒有說“靈感更重要”。 ✪ 順帶一提，愛迪生是個為人很混蛋的傢伙～以上✪