Who said “There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking.”?

Misattributed

Not Thomas A. Edison. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundNot by Thomas A. Edison. Earliest known source: Sir Joshua Reynolds, Discourse XII (1784); Edison himself credited Reynolds.

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“There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking.”
— Thomas A. Edison
MisattributedNot by Thomas A. Edison. Earliest known source: Sir Joshua Reynolds, Discourse XII (1784); Edison himself credited Reynolds. · evidenceThoughts and Thinking
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Cite this quote

APA

“There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking.” [Quotation attributed to Thomas A. Edison]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39699-there-is-no-expedient-to-which-a-man/

MLA

“There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking.” Attributed to Thomas A. Edison. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39699-there-is-no-expedient-to-which-a-man/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labor of thinking.” Attributed to Thomas A. Edison. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39699-there-is-no-expedient-to-which-a-man/.

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