Bre Pettis Quotes

Powerful Bre Pettis for Daily Growth

About Bre Pettis

Bre Pettis, born on October 19, 1974, is an American inventor, entrepreneur, artist, and author known for his contributions to the field of 3D printing and Maker Movement. Raised in a creative family, Pettis developed an early interest in art and technology. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Pettis gained prominence as one of the co-founders of MakerBot Industries, a pioneering 3D printing company that popularized this technology among hobbyists and professionals. His work at MakerBot led to the creation of the Replicator 2, a widely used desktop 3D printer. In 2014, Pettis left MakerBot to focus on his next venture, Bre Pettis Studio, where he continues to explore art and technology. His projects include the BQ Wolverine, an open-source 3D printer, and the PLA Filament Extruder, a device that turns plastic waste into usable filament for 3D printers. Pettis is also a prolific author. His books, such as "Making Things Smarter" (2016) and "The Playful Printer" (2014), have inspired countless makers to dive into the world of DIY technology. He is also a sought-after speaker, sharing his insights on innovation, creativity, and the power of making at various events worldwide. Throughout his career, Pettis has been influenced by the spirit of DIY culture, open-source collaboration, and the belief that everyone should have access to the tools to create. His work continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in the realm of technology and art.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. 'Tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning."

The quote emphasizes the importance of precision in communication, suggesting that using the nearly correct word can lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations, similar to the difference between a firefly (lightning bug) and actual lightning. It underscores the power and impact of choosing the right word when conveying ideas or emotions.


"Making things is hard and messy at first, but with time it gets easier and better."

This quote emphasizes the process of creation and learning. It suggests that starting a new project or endeavor often involves difficulty and chaos, but as one persists and gains experience, the work becomes less challenging and more refined over time. The key takeaway is to persevere in the face of initial struggles and trust that with practice, skills will improve and results will become better.


"If you're not making mistakes, then you're not making anything. I'd rather make mistakes than nothing at all."

This quote by Bre Pettis emphasizes the importance of taking risks and being creative, even if it means making mistakes. The key idea is that failure or mistakes are inevitable when we strive to create something new or innovative. Rather than fearing mistakes, we should embrace them as opportunities for growth and learning. By avoiding risk, one might never produce anything original or significant. Thus, it encourages taking action, making attempts, and being open to learning from the outcomes of those actions.


"If you want to do something amazing, something extraordinary and something worth talking about, you've got to be willing to try new things."

This quote emphasizes that pursuing remarkable achievements or experiences requires a readiness to embrace novelty. It suggests that if one aspires to achieve something extraordinary and worthy of note, they must be open to venturing beyond their comfort zone and attempting new things. In essence, it's a call to action for those who aspire for greatness, urging them to be bold, innovative, and adventurous in their pursuits.


"You aren't going to build a spaceship in your backyard if you don't start with the right tools."

This quote emphasizes the importance of having the proper tools for achieving ambitious goals, particularly those that require significant effort or complexity. In this case, building a spaceship is a metaphor for any challenging project or aspiration. It implies that without the correct resources (tools), one's ability to accomplish such feats is limited or even impossible. The message encourages individuals to invest in acquiring the essential skills and tools needed to pursue their dreams effectively and confidently.


My parents had a software company making children's software for the Apple II+, Commodore 64 and Acorn computers. They hired these teenagers to program the software, and these guys were true hackers, trying to get more colors and sound and animation out of those computers.

- Bre Pettis

Software, Sound, Had, Acorn

We're on the brink of the next industrial revolution. Instead of buying things, you can make them on a printer. When you have a 3D printer, you can iterate more - what used to take months, now takes hours.

- Bre Pettis

Next, Hours, Months, Brink

When we looked out at the world and saw what 3D scanners could do, we wanted to make something that could make really high quality models that you could create on your MakerBot.

- Bre Pettis

Could, Models, Looked, High Quality

Customized jewelry is one of my targets with Bold Machines.

- Bre Pettis

Jewelry, Bold, Machines, Targets

For me, when you put a MakerBot in a school, you add a manufacturing education to the environment where I think we can really empower the next generation to compete in the global economy.

- Bre Pettis

Generation, Next, Add, Manufacturing

My personal mission has always been to empower people to be creative. But the Holy Grail of a tinkerer is to make something that makes something.

- Bre Pettis

Always, Holy, Been, Grail

When people have a MakerBot, they have a different mindset from everybody else who grew up as a consumer. Instead of thinking, 'I need to go buy that,' they first think, 'Do I need to go buy that? I could just MakerBot that.'

- Bre Pettis

Mindset, Think, Everybody, Consumer

I've watched with amazement as Local Motors has pioneered a co-creation and micro-manufacturing model that has democratized the development and production of complex machines, effectively transforming consumer choice from supply-driven to demand-driven.

- Bre Pettis

Development, Amazement, Consumer

If you want to be a person who buys stuff at the dollar store, you can be that person. If you want to make really cool stuff on your desktop and be the manufacturer, that is a lifestyle.

- Bre Pettis

Cool, Want, Buys, Manufacturer

What I like on Kickstarter is when I see real innovation and I see people building something new. It makes me sad when I see things that are just the same technology; you aren't passing the technology forward.

- Bre Pettis

Building, See, I See, Passing

We started MakerBot in 2009 and made a conscious decision to educate people with the possibilities they could do with 3D printing and share with people what is possible.

- Bre Pettis

Decision, Possibilities, Printing

We have always moved with this approach of sharing and educating people with what they can unlock with 3D printing.

- Bre Pettis

Always, Unlock, Moved, Printing

We got involved with the RepRap Project, a community focused on making 3-D printers that could make copies of themselves and help create a world without money. We started making prototypes.

- Bre Pettis

Making, Could, Printers, Prototype

You can go from creating the design on your iPad to making the object on your MakerBot.

- Bre Pettis

Design, Go, Making, iPad

You learn so much by having customers and figuring out what they want and keeping them satisfied.

- Bre Pettis

Learn, Having, Keeping, Figuring

My father was a ham radio geek, and I remember the glow of the vacuum tubes from a Hammarlund receiver that became a hand-me-down to me.

- Bre Pettis

Father, I Remember, Became, Receiver

I still have the first bottle opener I made on my MakerBot. Things you fabricate are things you care more about. I think there will always be people who go and buy crap at the dollar store. But I think it is cool when people craft things themselves.

- Bre Pettis

I Think, Buy, About, Opener

While at The Evergreen State College, I met Doranne Crable, and she was so dynamic and adventurous that I decided on the spot to take whatever she taught.

- Bre Pettis

College, Adventurous, While, Dynamic

Before I started MakerBot, I was creating cool stuff and sharing it with the Internet. That's how I knew all the folks at BoingBoing, at Engadget and Gizmodo.

- Bre Pettis

Cool, Knew, Before, Sharing

We wanted people to 3-D-print anything, not just more 3-D printers.

- Bre Pettis

People, More, Wanted, Printers

The people who are getting 3-D printers at home are pioneers, kind of like the people who bought Apple IIs in 1981. Adults are usually the last people to get it. The kids are like, 'Get out of my way, I want at this thing.' They immediately start getting creative.

- Bre Pettis

Out, Getting, Immediately, Printers

Learn how a 3D printer works. Get inspired. Make your own stuff. It is a wonderful time to be innovative. Connect things together. If you're into electronics, get an Arduino.

- Bre Pettis

Learn, Electronics, Works, Wonderful Time

Our intention is that people use MakerBots to have a positive impact on the world.

- Bre Pettis

Impact, World, Use, Intention

I talked to a guy who has old cars, and there are parts that don't exist any more. So he makes radio dial knobs for obscure cars.

- Bre Pettis

Old, More, Makes, Dial

The self-driving car is coming. And right now, our best supply of organs come from car accidents... Once we have self-driving cars, we can actually reduce the number of accidents, but the next problem then would be organ replacement.

- Bre Pettis

Next, Reduce, Organ, Accidents

We raised $10 million in 2011. Our rule was, we wouldn't accept money from anybody we didn't want to have dinner with.

- Bre Pettis

Want, Raised, Anybody, Dinner

Most people don't feel empowered to make CAD models. The MakerBot Digitizer solves that problem.

- Bre Pettis

Problem, Most, Models, Empowered

One of the criticisms we get is, 'Does the world need more plastic crap?' But you have to look beyond the plastic crap, to the design, to the experience, to the empowering nature of the MakerBot and the community.

- Bre Pettis

Nature, More, Need, Crap

That's the beauty of living in New York City is that a good chunk of the media is here and willing to drink with you.

- Bre Pettis

New, Living, Here, Chunk

I feel like I've lived a life of making mistakes and learning from them and doing my best to only make each mistake once.

- Bre Pettis

Mistake, Making Mistakes, Lived

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.