I find your statement about the Edison quote disingenuous. I did some reading about the origin of the quote and it isn’t as cut and dry as you seem to claim.
Also, the quote is meaningful because Edison said it, not because the quote has merit in and of itself.
It’s inspiring because someone of Edison’s acclaim attributed his success to hard work. Anyone else could have said it and it wouldn’t have been a meaningful quote because they weren’t as successful as him.
Note that my statement doesn’t presuppose that he was successful solely due to his own efforts or that he isn’t a fraud etc. But rather that the significance of the quote relies on his perception as being successful in the public eye.
Also, the quote is meaningful because Edison said it, not because the quote has merit in and of itself.
It’s inspiring because someone of Edison’s acclaim attributed his success to hard work. Anyone else could have said it and it wouldn’t have been a meaningful quote because they weren’t as successful as him.
Note that my statement doesn’t presuppose that he was successful solely due to his own efforts or that he isn’t a fraud etc. But rather that the significance of the quote relies on his perception as being successful in the public eye.