Every time someone pulls out that tired Edison quote I'm reminded of a response Nikola Tesla gave when he heard it: “If Edison had a needle to find in a haysta

Every time someone pulls out that tired Edison quote I'm reminded of a response Nikola Tesla gave when he heard it: “If Edison had a needle to find in a haystack, he would proceed at once with the diligence of the bee to examine straw after straw until he found the object of his search. I was a sorry witness of such doings, knowing that a little theory and calculation would have saved him ninety per cent of his labor.” While not giving up after the first time your idea doesn't work is vital, it's equally important to avoid work when a little theory and math will save you the trouble.