A gushing young lady embarrassed Edison at a reception by her outspoken
admiration. “You will go down in history, Mr. Edison, as the inventor
of the first talking machine,” she
repeated for the tenth time.
“Indeed, no, madam,” replied Edison, “I am not the pioneer
in the field. The first talking machine was invented by the
Almighty and I merely invented one
that could be stopped at will.”