Why do we say "Necessity is the mother of invention"?

Well-Known Expressions

Necessity is the mother of invention

Meaning:

When a problem presents itself, clever minds will find a solution

Background:

The earliest recording of this adage is in Vulgaria (1519), a book of Latin aphorisms collected by William Horman (c.1458-1535), who was headmaster of Winchester College, and both headmaster and provost of Eton. In Latin: Mater artium necessitas.

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Broken Country (Reese's Book Club)
by Clare Leslie Hall

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