"Most wacky ideas never lead to anything. A lot of wacky ideas seem like sure bets in hindsight."
I was just reading how a French inventor offered one of the first submarines in existence as a gift to Napoleon. He refused it.
Imagine if France had instead started massively supporting submarine research and development instead. They could have had a couple of hundred year lead on the rest of the world in submarines and perhaps dominated the seas from then on.
Of course, even then it wouldn't have been so simple, as there'd likely be technology theft and simple inspiration by others that would make their lead not so great. But the potential to make a great difference was there and it was squandered by an otherwise extraordinary leader.
I was just reading how a French inventor offered one of the first submarines in existence as a gift to Napoleon. He refused it.
Imagine if France had instead started massively supporting submarine research and development instead. They could have had a couple of hundred year lead on the rest of the world in submarines and perhaps dominated the seas from then on.
Of course, even then it wouldn't have been so simple, as there'd likely be technology theft and simple inspiration by others that would make their lead not so great. But the potential to make a great difference was there and it was squandered by an otherwise extraordinary leader.