Great inventions are developed as a result of genius minds being unable to rest. The truly great minds can envision a better way of doing something and work tirelessly until they achieve their goal. This is the reason that most good inventions are stolen: the real inventors are not trying to make money so they do not obtain a patent.

As the old saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention" For example, Radar was developed by the military for an edge in the air. Same with sonar, GPS, kevlar etc.

I think profit has very little to do with the best inventions, except for the less influential ones like "oxy-clean" and "the clapper" and stuff like that.

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"Masters of War" by Bob Dylan
"When a man assumes public trust, he should consider himself as public property"
-Thomas Jefferson
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
-Albert Einstein
"One man with courage is a majority"
-Thomas Jefferson