"I had gone on a walk on a fine Sabbath afternoon. I had entered the Green [of Glasgow] by the gate at the foot of Charlotte Street—had passed the old washing-house. I was thinking upon the engine at t…"

"groped in the dark, misled by many an ignis fatuus, but nature has a weak side, if we can only find it out."

"My great success in life has been owing to my having paid attention to every detail."

"I had gone to take a walk on a fine Sabbath afternoon, early in 1765... I was thinking upon the engine at the time... when the idea came into my mind that as steam was an elastic body it would rush in…"

"I would rather face a loaded cannon than settle a patent dispute."