It was in the second year of my studies that we received a Gramme dynamo from Paris. It was connected up and various effects of the currents were shown. While professor Poeschl was making demonstrations, running the machine as a motor, the brushes gave trouble, sparking badly.

 I observed that it might be possible to operate a motor without these appliances, but he declared it could not be done. “Mr. Tesla may accomplish great things, but he will certainly never do this. It would be equivalent to converting a steadily pulling force, like that of gravity, into a rotary effort. It is a perpetual motion scheme, an impossible idea.”

For a time I wavered, impressed by the professor’s authority, but soon I became convinced I was right and undertook the task with all the fire and boundless confidence of youth. 

I started by first picturing in my mind a direct-current machine, running it and following the changing flow of the currents in the armature. Then I would imagine an alternator and investigate the processes taking place in a similar manner. Next I would visualize systems comprising motors and generators and operate them in various ways. The images I saw were to me perfectly real and tangible.

All my remaining term in Gratz was passed in intense but fruitless efforts of this kind, and I almost came to the conclusion that the problem was unsolvable. In attacking the problem again I almost regretted that the struggle was soon to end. When I undertook the task it was not with a resolve such as men often make. With me, it was a sacred vow, a question of life and death. I knew that I would perish if I failed. Now that I felt that the battle was won, back in the deep recesses of the brain was a solution, but I could not yet give it outward expression.

One afternoon, which is ever present in my recollection, I was enjoying a walk with my friend in the city park and reciting poetry. One of these was Goethe’s “Faust”. The sun was just setting and reminded me of the glorious passage…

The glow retreats, done is the day of toil.

It yonder hastes, new fields of life exploring.

Ah, that no wing can lift me from the soil upon its tract to follow, follow soaring!

A glorious dream!

Though now the glories fade.

Alas! The wings that lift the mind no aid

Of wings to lift the body can bequeath me.

As I uttered these inspiring words the idea came like a flash of lightning and in an instant the truth was revealed. 

I drew with a stick on the sand, and my companion understood them perfectly. The images I saw were wonderfully shard and clear and had the solidity of metal and stone. I cannot begin to describe my emotions. Pygmalion seeing his statue come to life could not have been more deeply moved. A thousand secrets of nature which I might have stumbled upon accidentally…

I would have given for that one which I had wrestled from her against all odds and at the peril of my existence. 

-Nikola Tesla-