Alfred North Whitehead Quote

Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise. "Necessity is the mother of invention" is a silly proverb. "Necessity is the mother of futile dodges" is much closer to the truth. The basis of growth of modern invention is science, and science is almost wholly the outgrowth of pleasurable intellectual curiosity.


Aims of Education (ed. Simon and Schuster, 1967) - ISBN: 9780029351802


Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise. Necessity is the mother of invention is a silly...

Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise. Necessity is the mother of invention is a silly...

Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise. Necessity is the mother of invention is a silly...

Inventive genius requires pleasurable mental activity as a condition for its vigorous exercise. Necessity is the mother of invention is a silly...