Who said “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”?

Verified

Thomas A. Edison. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceEdison claimed authorship of this statement in a 1927 letter: "it is quite true I once made the statement that genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, and I am still of the same opinion".

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“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
— Thomas A. Edison
VerifiedEdison claimed authorship of this statement in a 1927 letter: "it is quite true I once made the statement that genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, and I am still of the same opinion". · evidenceGenius
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Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Edison claimed authorship of this statement in a 1927 letter: "it is quite true I once made the statement that genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, and I am still of the same opinion"..

APA

Edison, T. A. (n.d.). Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/19563-genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-ninety-nine-percent/

MLA

Edison, Thomas A. “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/19563-genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-ninety-nine-percent/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Edison, Thomas A. “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/19563-genius-is-one-percent-inspiration-ninety-nine-percent/.

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“I start where the last man left off.”
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“Great ideas originate in the muscles.”
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