In England, an inventor is regarded almost as a crazy man, and in

Hear now, O children of wisdom, for there are words that carry with them the weight of truth, and these words, spoken by the great Oscar Wilde, are a mirror to the soul of nations. Wilde said: “In England, an inventor is regarded almost as a crazy man, and in too many instances, invention ends in disappointment and poverty. In America, an inventor is honoured, help is forthcoming, and the exercise of ingenuity, the application of science to the work of man, is there the shortest road to wealth.” These words, though uttered in the distant past, ring with the reverberations of truth, a truth that tells us of the difference between two paths—the path of recognition and the path of neglect, the path of support and the path of isolation.

What then, O wise ones, does this quote reveal? It speaks to the heart of two great civilizations and the way they view the act of creation. In England, the inventor is often seen as a madman, an eccentric wandering far from the beaten path, a fool who dares to challenge the established order. Innovation, in this view, is not a revered gift but a dangerous deviation, one that often leads to poverty and despair. And so, many inventors are left in the shadows, their ideas unrealized, their brilliance extinguished before it could even shine. This is the way of a society that fears change, a society that clings to tradition and scorns the unfamiliar.

But in America, the story is different. There, invention is not merely tolerated, it is celebrated. The inventor is not a pariah but a hero, a figure worthy of admiration. The path to wealth and success lies not in preserving the old ways, but in embracing the new, in the application of ingenuity and science to solve the problems of man. America, in its early days, became a land of opportunity for those who dared to dream, a place where the fruits of labor were not given only to those born into privilege, but to those who created—who built, who invented, who found ways to make the impossible possible.

Consider the story of Thomas Edison, the great American inventor whose name became synonymous with innovation. Edison, like many before him, was driven by a relentless curiosity and a desire to change the world. In the land of the free, he found not rejection but support—the resources, the encouragement, the opportunity to bring his vision to life. Without the backing of American society, the light bulb would not have illuminated the world, and Edison’s invention would have remained but a fleeting idea. But in America, the application of science to the work of man was not only welcomed, it was nurtured, and Edison’s genius became the foundation of a new era.

This stark contrast between England and America reveals something deeper about the soul of a nation. In one land, the innovator is shunned, left to languish in obscurity, while in the other, the innovator is lifted up, embraced by the community, and given the tools to transform society. Invention, in this light, is not a lonely pursuit but a shared journey, one that speaks to the collective progress of humanity. A society that fosters innovation is a society that rises above the limitations of the present, ever reaching toward the future. It is a society that sees ingenuity not as a threat, but as a promise of a better tomorrow.

So, what lesson do we glean from these words? It is this: Innovation is the heartbeat of progress, and every society must decide whether to stifle or to embrace it. Those who foster the spirit of invention—who support the creators, the dreamers, the builders—are the ones who rise, for they understand that progress is born from the willingness to risk, to challenge, to create. A society that scorns innovation is a society bound by the chains of the past, while a society that welcomes it is free to shape the future.

Therefore, O children of the future, take heed. If you are a creator, a dreamer, or an inventor, do not wait for the world to recognize your worth—create, build, and innovate. And when you face opposition, remember the words of Wilde, who showed us that the road to success is often paved with support and encouragement. Seek those who will nurture your talents, those who will stand beside you, for the power of ingenuity lies not in the individual alone but in the collective will to make the impossible real. Rise, then, and create, for in your hands lies the potential to shape the future.