Rube Goldberg Quotes

A collection of quotes by Rube Goldberg.

Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was an influential American cartoonist, inventor, and engineer, best known for his intricate and humorous contraption drawings known as "Rube Goldberg machines." Born Reuben Garrett Lucius Goldberg on July 4, 1883, in San Francisco, California, he discovered his passion for drawing at an early age. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in engineering, he initially worked as an engineer but found himself more drawn to his artistic pursuits.

Goldberg's career took off when he started creating cartoons for newspapers, with his first significant success being the comic strip "Foolish Questions" in 1909. However, it was his invention-inspired drawings featuring absurdly complex machines that led to his enduring fame. These cartoons depicted bizarre devices designed to accomplish simple tasks through an elaborate chain reaction of cause and effect. Goldberg's witty creations became widely popular, occupying a special place in American pop culture.

Throughout his life, Goldberg received numerous accolades and honors for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize for Political Cartooning in 1948. His cartoons inspired generations of inventors and artists, and his name has become synonymous with unnecessarily complex contraptions. Even today, Rube Goldberg machines continue to captivate and entertain people worldwide, featuring in various commercials, films, and even official competitions.

Rube Goldberg's unique blend of engineering, creativity, and humor has left an indelible mark on the world of cartooning and invention, making him an icon remembered for his extraordinary imagination and ability to turn the simplest task into a complex and comical spectacle.