Quick answer“Let the future tell the truth and evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishments. The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine.” is a famous quote by Nikola Tesla. It comes from 'A Visit to Nikola Tesla' (Politika, April 1927). It is widely quoted on motivation and science.
In a 1927 interview in Belgrade, Nikola Tesla spoke about rivals using his patents and said the present belonged to them, while the future, for which he had really worked, was his. The second sentence is often quoted on its own.
Origin: Said by Tesla in an interview with Dragislav L. Petkovic, published as 'A Visit to Nikola Tesla' in the Belgrade newspaper Politika in April 1927. Tesla was speaking about patent disputes over his inventions, including a radio patent used by Marconi. As Margaret Cheney and colleagues explain in Tesla, Master of Lightning (1999), the remark followed his complaint at having to fight for credit for his own work. The second sentence is often quoted on its own, without that context, so the record keeps the full two sentences.
Key facts
| Quote | “Let the future tell the truth and evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishments. The present is theirs; the future, for which I really worked, is mine.” |
|---|---|
| Author | Nikola Tesla |
| Source | 'A Visit to Nikola Tesla' (Politika, April 1927) |
| Themes | motivation, science |
| Language | English |
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Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.