OUR ORDINARY EVERYDAY MECHANICAL UTILITIES WOULD BE CONSIDERED MAGIC BY HIM WHO WROTE—"THERE'S NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN."
Happily the world is not apt to suffer from the foolish slogan of "IN GOOD OLD TIMES," as generally the possessor of extraordinary abilities will not be deterred by it from using them. And a SIGH for PAST opportunities is but a true indication of the unfitness of its unfortunate emitter for any opportunity.
The "MISLEADING ANSWER" to "WHAT AND HOW TO INVENT" is that which tells everybody and anybody, to invent ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.
Human abilities and environments vary, and it necessarily follows that every individual cannot be successful in that undertaking which requires for its successful accomplishment that which manifestly his Creator did not endow him with. Nor is the capable man apt to be as successful in a direction where, through his environments, he is a stranger, as he would in that field of operation that he has been most active in. It is better and cheaper for a person to first determine his possession of the abilities for doing certain things, than to find out the want of them by the failure of his undertaking. The gifted individual will also find success easier to attain if his efforts are directed in experienced channels, than if prospecting on what is to him, "unexplored wilds."
And to the "MISLEADING ANSWER" OF "WHAT AND HOW TO INVENT," can be, in a great measure, attributed the product of the inventive weeds that choke up the patent offices as well as the elimination of numerous individuals from ordinary but useful occupations for which their Creator evidently intended them. Their wasted substances furnishes a fat living to them who make a profession to give out this "misleading" advice broadcast.
[ CHAPTER 11
General Definition and Classification of Inventions]
To "ANSWER INTELLIGENTLY WHAT AND HOW TO INVENT." It is first necessary to analyze most carefully the various phases of invention of various natures.
It will be observed that inventions in general may be divided into several divisions, as follows:
First:—Fundamental physical principles, which are very rare and purely scientific.