Scientific and technological progress is one of humanity's most important and far-reaching streams of endeavor throughout history. One of the distinctive features of every large society is the contribution that society can make in terms of new or better knowledge of the world and its functioning. A strong, vibrant culture celebrates the spirit of invention and innovation. Closely linked to this concept is the entrepreneurial spirit, considered one of the greatest qualities of American culture. Americans praise the success of the inventor and the salesman alike; while the greatest self-promoters are most fully remembered, the greatest minds are never truly forgotten. It is in American society that the ideals of invention and innovation exist interdependently with the ideals of self-confidence and salesmanship in a unique balance. Thomas Edison is widely regarded as one of the most influential inventors and innovators of the twentieth century. Edison's efforts ushered in a new technological era; a world where electricity would be harnessed and made to bend to the will of man. Walter Lippman wrote, "It is impossible to measure Edison's importance by adding up the specific inventions with which his name is associated" (qtd. in Baldwin 409). Edison's decades-long career was a synergistic fusion of his success as an inventor and his skill as a promoter and businessman. He exemplified the ideals of intelligence married to hard work and perseverance. It forever changed the landscape of American invention and the limits of technological change (Baldwin 409). Edison's view of invention as a process shaped much of his entrepreneurial approach. For Edison it was never enough to simply develop and perfect a concept or idea; he guided it constantly... middle of paper... uses like Tesla and Ritchie to discover the path and show the way, but it also needs far-sighted men like Edison and Jobs who can lead the way and build the way. Works Cited Millard, AJ Edison and the Business of Innovation. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins UniversityPress, 1990. Print.Baldwin, Neil. Edison: Inventing the century. New York: Hyperion, 1995. Print.Carlson, WB “Inventor of Dreams.” Scientific American March 2005: 78-85. ProQuest. Network. 9 Nov 2011.Mearian, Lucas. "Dennis Ritchie and Steve Jobs: a great combination." Tell the truth. FromComputerWorld. October 13, 2011. Web. November 12, 2011. Sorensen, Chris, Michael Friscolanti, and Jason Kirby. "Think differently." Maclean's October 24, 2011: 32-. ProQuest. November 14, 2011. Kingston, Anne. "The computer as modern art." Maclean's, October 24, 2011: 32-. ProQuest.14 Nov. 2011 .