When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.

The inventor looks upon the world and is not contented with things as they are. He wants to improve whatever he sees, he wants to benefit the world.

I thought that Helmholtz had done it... and that my failure was due only to my ignorance of electricity. It was a valuable blunder... If I had been able to read German in those days, I might never have commenced my experiments!

Mr. Watson, come here — I want to see you.

I shall give Japan a good laundering.

-- Sakamoto Ryōma

Writing is only good for recording names. Swordsmanship defeats one man — that's not worth learning. I want to learn what defeats ten thousand.

-- Xiang Yu

I shall either find a way or make one.

-- Hannibal

The spear that is thrown is lost.

-- Shaka Zulu

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood... teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.

-- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Freedom, Sancho, is one of the most precious gifts that heaven gave to man.

-- Miguel de Cervantes