Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.
In plain words
A tiny bit of brilliance and an enormous amount of hard work.
Where these words come from
- 90% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- Harper's Monthly interview, 1932 (Edison also claimed authorship in a 1927 letter). Quote Investigator traces dated print attributions from 1898 (2%/98%, Ladies' Home Journal) evolving to 1%/99% by 1901 (Idaho Daily Statesman) — well-documented lineage, not a misattribution.
