# The Lightbulb as a symbol of an idea **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 8, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791 "2003-05-08T00:00:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sdweat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@sdweat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdweat)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791/1 "2003-05-08T00:00:43Z")
Where did the lightbulb as a symbol of an idea first originate? Usually we see in an illustration or even in a story where a person thinks of something and a lightbulb shows over their head. Who was the first person or where was this first published? Did a cartoonist come up with this bright idea? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791/2 "2003-05-08T01:12:17Z")
I have no cite, but I understand that it’s a reference to the “original” good idea Thomas Edison had when he invented the light bulb. I’m going to research this a little more. Did you try Google? (not complaining, just wondering) ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791/3 "2003-05-08T01:21:54Z")
I always thought it was just a particularly good metaphor. Most good ideas dawn on us suddenly (notice the usage of the word “dawn” in this context), and lightbulbs light up suddenly when you flip the switch. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791/4 "2003-05-08T01:37:36Z")
Yeah, I’mwith Joe. I figured it was the sudden realisation of a good idea matching the instant ‘on’ of a light bulb. Also, the brightness of knowledge as opposed to the dim murk of ignorance. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![sdweat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@sdweat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sdweat)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791/5 "2003-05-08T02:21:40Z")
What I need is to find out specifically where this idea came from? Who was to first to publish this–is this written down in some reference or book alluding to this? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791/6 "2003-05-08T07:49:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Steelerphan \* > **I understand that it’s a reference to the “original” good idea Thomas Edison had when he invented the light bulb.** Actually, Edison did not **invent** the light bulb. What he (or, really, workers in his lab) did was to come up with a way of manufacturing light bulbs that were cheap enough and durable enough to make incandescent electric lighting competitive with the common gas lights of the time. Here’s [one cite](http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/edison/lightbulb.shtml), but googling on “invention light bulb” will find you many more. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791/7 "2003-05-08T12:14:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sdweat \* > \*\*What I need is to find out specifically where this idea came from? Who was to first to publish this–is this written down in some reference or book alluding to this? \*\* Why the urgent need for specifics? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791/8 "2003-05-08T12:45:27Z")
Slight hijack: the cartoonist’s cliche has now been incorporated into a [corporate logo](http://www.xtcidearecords.co.uk/) – as designed by XTC’s Andy Partridge. 🙂 Good luck on tracking down the originating artist on this one… I have a feeling this will be almost as difficult as, say, determining who pioneered the “one or two guys marooned on a miniscule desert island with a palm tree” cartoon scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Ezstrete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ea924/32.png) [@Ezstrete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ezstrete)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2003, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-lightbulb-as-a-symbol-of-an-idea/173791/9 "2003-05-08T14:20:11Z")
Just an illustration of the term"seeing the light"! It represents understanding or sudden awareness. Just like -----a light’bulb’ isn’t bulb at all-----but a lamp