Even a Genius Is Wrong Sometimes

Mark Twain quipped, "Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."

Even brilliant thinkers make mistakes. The nineteenth-century physicist Lord Kelvin theorized that "heavier than air flying machines are impossible," "radio has no future," and "X-rays will prove to be a hoax."

An internal memo at Western Union written in 1876 observed, "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us."

An article in The Literary Digest published in 1889 predicted, "The ordinary 'horseless carriage' is at present a luxury for the wealthy; and although its price will probably fall in the future, it will never come into as common use as the bicycle."

"Everything that can be invented has been invented," declared Charles H. Duell, Commissioner of the United States Patent Office, in 1899.

In 1939 Winston Churchill said, "Atomic energy might be as good as our present day explosives, but it is unlikely to produce anything very much more dangerous."

The chairman of IBM, Thomas Watson, predicted in 1943 that "there is a world market for maybe five computers." Popular Mechanics predicted in 1949 that "computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons." Ken Olsen, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation, offered his opinion that "there is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."

In 1956 Sir Richard Woolley, the Astronomer Royal of Britain, said "space travel is utter bilge."

Decca Recording Company rejected a young music group in 1962, saying, "We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." The group they rejected? The Beatles.

Even Bible publishers aren't immune to human error. In 1631 a careless typesetter omitted the word "not" from the seventh Commandment. This edition of the Scriptures was nicknamed "The Wicked Bible" because it said, "Thou shalt commit adultery."

In 1795 the so-called "Murderers' Bible" translated Mark 7:27 "let the little children first be killed" instead of "filled." However, in Psalm 119:161 the version exacted its own revenge on its publishers with another misprint. Rather than the intended word "Princes," the verse said, "Printers have persecuted me without cause."

Human genius amazes me. I stand in awe of skillful writers who paint colorful words on the canvass of our minds. I marvel when athletes perform their magic on a football field or an Olympic balance beam. I'm impressed by engineers who design bridges and skyscrapers, technicians who understand the mysterious inner workings of computers, musicians who play flawlessly in symphony orchestras, mechanics who know car engines inside and out, and farmers who can coax an extra bushel of soybeans out of every acre.

But just about the time I'm ready to give humanity a collective pat on the back, I remember that even the greatest among us make mistakes. Even the brightest and best are sinners—with limited knowledge, limited strength, and limited life-spans. That's why the Bible says, "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. . . . Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the Lord, who remains faithful forever" (Psalm 146:3-6).

All the finest human achievements added together—all the insights in a thousand libraries—are but a drop of water compared with the ocean of God's wisdom.

"Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit" (Psalm 147:5). Let's reserve our highest praise for him, and him alone.