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To design a flying machine is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything.

— Otto Lilienthal Misattributed

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Source, in full

Widely attributed to Lilienthal, this was actually an 1898 statement by Ferdinand Ferber dedicated to Lilienthal, published in L'Aviation; ses debuts son developpement [Aviation, its debut and devopment] (1908), translated into German as Die Kunst zu Fliegen [The Art of Flight] (1910)

More quotes by Otto Lilienthal

All flight is based upon producing air pressure, all flight energy consists in overcoming air pressure.

Der Vogelflug als Grundlage der Fliegekunst (1889)

Actual practice in individual flight presents the best prospects for developing our capacity until it leads to perfected free flight.

The Romance of Aeronautics (1912)

Gradual development of flight should begin with the simplest apparatus and movements, and without time complication of dynamic means.

The Romance of Aeronautics (1912)

The supporting powers of time air and of the wind depend on the shape of the surfaces used, and the best forms can only be evolved by free flight through the air.

The Romance of Aeronautics (1912)

The sailing flight of birds is the only form of flight which is carried on for some length of time without the expenditure of power.

The Romance of Aeronautics (1912)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Otto Lilienthal (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.