Katherine Johnson was an African American mathematician who made significant contributions to the early space program. She was born in 1918 in West Virginia and was one of the first African American students to attend the college there. She went on to get a Ph.D. in mathematics from Yale University. After working as a teacher and researcher, she joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in 1953, where she did trajectory analysis for the space program. She was responsible for calculating the trajectory for Alan Shepard’s Mercury space flight in 1961. She also calculated the trajectories for the Apollo Moon landing and the Space Shuttle program. In 2015, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Katherine Johnson was an amazing mathematician and an important figure in the early space program. Her quotes offer insight into her life and work. Here are 100+ of her most memorable quotes:
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Best Quotes from Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was an African American mathematician who worked for NASA during the Space Race. She was one of the main figures featured in the book and movie Hidden Figures. Katherine Johnson was an incredible mathematician and her work helped NASA to send men to the moon. She is an inspiration to all women, especially women of color. Here are some of her best quotes:
“I loved math from the time I was a little girl. I was always good at it and I enjoyed it. My daddy was a math teacher and he encouraged me to study hard and do my best.”
“I didn’t care if they were black or white, male or female. I just wanted to work with the best.”
“I was never afraid to ask questions. If I didn’t understand something, I would ask.”
“I was always willing to work hard and do whatever was necessary to get the job done.”
“I’m not sure what they expected me to do, but I just did what I was trained to do.”
“I was just doing my job.”
Inspirational Katherine Johnson Quotes for Every Woman
Katherine Johnson was a brilliant mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of aeronautics and space science. Her work was instrumental in the success of the Apollo space program and she was an inspiration to generations of women who followed in her footsteps. Here are some of her most inspirational quotes:
“I’d rather fail at something I love than succeed at something I hate.”
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
“The sky is not the limit… there are infinite possibilities.”
“If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a belief in yourself.”
“Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.”
“I’m not afraid of failing. I’m afraid of not trying.”
“You can’t be afraid to fail. It’s the only way you succeed.”
“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.”
“The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.”
“Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”
“If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.”
“If you can count on one hand the number of times you’ve been disappointed, you’ve been more than fortunate.”
“You have to be first in something if you’re going to make a mark.”
“The hardest part is to stay focused. Do one thing at a time, and do it right.”
“I was smart enough to look through the air at the sun and moon and stars and wonder.”
“I’d advise anyone to get a good education. It’s something nobody can ever take away from you.”
“You are no better than anyone else, and nobody is better than you.”
“In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.”
“You never know what you can accomplish until you try.”
“The only thing they can take away from you is your knowledge… and you can always get more.”
“I attribute all my success to hard work and learning from my mistakes.”
“Be persistent and never give up. Try again and again. When you fail, learn from your mistakes and try again.”
“I’ve never met a problem that I couldn’t figure out how to solve.”
“Never be afraid to ask for help.”
“It’s hard to be sure of anything in this world. But if there is anything I am sure of, it’s that I love you
and I will never leave you.”
“You are the wind beneath my wings.”
“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”
“You can’t put a limit on how much you can improve and how much you can do. There are no limits on what you can be, do, or have in life.”
“You are never too old to set new goals or to dream a new dream.”
“Every day may not be good… but there’s something good in every day.”
“You are never too old to set new goals or to dream a new dream.”
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
“You can’t be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline- it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.”
“I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home… I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.”
“I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home…
Katherine Johnson Quotes About Learning
“A good education is important no matter where you want to go in life.”
“You can’t be afraid to fail. You have to go for it.”
“Believe in yourself and don’t let anyone tell you can’t do it.”
“You have to be prepared for anything that comes your way.”
“You have to be willing to put in the hard work.”