Edison: His Life and Inventions, Chapter XXIV: The Phonograph and Its Echoes
Thomas Edison
Edison's words challenge the romantic notion of the accidental genius. Most of his inventions emerged not from serendipity but from relentless trial and precision. Though he famously stumbled upon the phonograph, his usual process was methodical. This contrasts sharply with the era's image of the "eureka" moment, emphasizing instead the grind behind innovation.