Charles Holland Duell, United States Commissioner of Patents from 1898 to 1901, was famously purported to say "everything that can be invented has been invented."
That is apocryphal, though. A thing he actually did say was:
"In my opinion, all previous advances in the various lines of invention will appear totally insignificant when compared with those which the present century will witness. I almost wish that I might live my life over again to see the wonders which are at the threshold."
