Oliver Evans

“He who can have no idea of the power of steam, may have some of the cheapness of labor. The easing of Men's labours is the great desideratum of the human-kind.”

“The time will come when people will travel in stages moved by steam engines from one city to another, almost as fast as birds fly, 15 or 20 miles an hour.”

“It is too much for the human mind to invent and bring to perfection at the same time.”

“I have been taken for a madman, for I have been so unfortunate as to invent new and useful improvements; and what is still more lamentable, to be an American!”

“I am frequently censured for being too sanguine in my expectations from my discoveries. But I must be allowed to be the best judge of the power of my own inventions.”

“One step in a revolution is to make the people sensible of their situation.”