James Watt
Steam engine improvements
Early Modern
influential
25 sayings
Sayings by James Watt
I know grief has its period; but I have much to suffer...
c. 1769
— From a letter during a difficult period in his life (around the time of his wife's death and financi…
Philosophical
Unverifiable
My great success in life has been owing to my having paid attention to every detail.
Undated
— Widely attributed, reflecting his meticulous engineering approach. Specific primary source hard to p…
Philosophical
Unverifiable
Nothing man has discovered or imagined is to be named with the steam engine. It has no fellow.
c. late 18th/early 19th century
— Attributed to James Watt in Andrew Carnegie's biography of him, 'James Watt'.
Philosophical
Unverifiable
one of the most ingenious, simple pieces of mechanism I have contrived.
1784
— His description of his invention of the parallel motion.
Philosophical
Unverifiable
I sell here, Sir, what all the world desires to have—POWER.
1776
— Quoted by Matthew Boulton to James Boswell, referring to Watt's improved steam engine and its produc…
Philosophical
Unverifiable