We could all use a little inspiration now and again. One of the best forms is when a great thinker has put an idea, concept, feeling, or other sentiment in to the perfect words, so here is a listing of some of my fav engineering or science related quotes. Feel free to add some that inspire you and share them around.

“When you want to know how things really work, study them when they're coming apart.” 
― William Gibson, Zero History

“The trick to having good ideas is not to sit around in glorious isolation and try to think big thoughts. The trick is to get more parts on the table.” 
― Steven Johnson, Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation

“All we know about the new economic world tells us that nations which train engineers will prevail over those which train lawyers. No nation has ever sued its way to greatness.” 
― Richard Lamm

“The problem in this business isn’t to keep people from stealing your ideas; it's making them steal your ideas!” 
― Howard Aiken

"Engineering is the art of organizing and directing men and controlling the forces and materials of nature for the benefit of the human race".  --Henry G. Stott,

“[John] Kobak explained, 'The way you learn anything is that something fails, and you figure out how not to have it fail again.” 
― Robert S. Arrighi, Pursuit of Power: NASA's Propulsion Systems Laboratory No. 1 and 2

“The fewer moving parts, the better." "Exactly. No truer words were ever spoken in the context of engineering.” 
― Christian Cantrell, Containment

“We don’t care about what you did yesterday—we care about what you’re going to do tomorrow.” 
― Cory Doctorow, Makers

"The ideal engineer is a composite ... He is not a scientist, he is not a mathematician, he is not a sociologist or a writer; but he may use the knowledge and techniques of any or all of these disciplines in solving engineering problems." -- N. W. Dougherty

“Chance only favours the prepared mind.” - Louis Pasteur

"Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration." - Thomas Edison

“I derive satisfaction from doing something that is useful for other people. I enjoy what I do, I was born to be an engineer.” - B. Gordon, Founder, CEO Analogic

Einstein Quotes:

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” 
― Albert Einstein

“If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.” 
― Albert Einstein

“Creativity is knowing how to hide your sources” 
― Albert Einstein

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” 
― Albert Einstein

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” 
― Albert Einstein

“Never memorize something that you can look up.” 
― Albert Einstein

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” 
― Albert Einstein

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” 
― Albert Einstein

Sources:

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/engineering

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/9810.Albert_Einstein

http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/engineering/

http://www.slideshare.net/tmcboston/great-engineering-quotes