Katherine Johnson was the driving force behind many of NASA’s first space flights. She was instrumental in launching the first Americans into space as part of Project Mercury, NASA’s first human spaceflight program. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the best quotes from Katherine Johnson.
Katherine Johnson, an African-American mathematician who worked for NASA for 35 years, is often referred to as a “human computer.” In 2016, Taraji P. Henson portrayed Johnson in the award-winning film Hidden Figures, bringing her legacy to a global audience.
In addition, Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019. We have curated a list of Katherine Johnson’s 20 best quotes below.
Check out our list of the 20 best quotes of Katherine Johnson:
- “We had to determine so much. Where you were, where the Moon would be, and how fast the astronauts were going.”
- “I entered college; I was 15. I was going to be a math teacher because that was it. You could be a math teacher or a nurse, but I was told I would make a good research mathematician, and they had me take all of the courses in the catalog.”
- “I was just excited to have challenging work to do and smart people to work with.”
- “John Glenn’s life will long be remembered for his time in space, his courage, and his service to all Americans.”
- “We put in some long hours at times, and I had three children at home. But they were very responsible, and I had family and friends who helped look after them.”
- “You should always be interested in something.”
- “I had a very, very interesting childhood, but, oh my, education was the primary focus in our family.”
- “I found what I was looking for at Langley. This was what a research mathematician did. I went to work every day for 33 years, happy. Never did I get up and say I don’t want to go to work.”
Britannica - “We always worked as a team. It’s never just one person.”
- “The women did what they were told to do. They didn’t ask questions or take the task any further. I asked questions; I wanted to know why. They got used to me asking questions and being the only woman there.”
- “All jobs are important to somebody. They had to be important to somebody. My theory is to do the best you can all the time. No fooling around.”
- “Men don’t pay attention to small things.”
- “My colleagues and I were committed to the work. We found different ways to deal with the segregation.”
- “Go see ‘Hidden Figures,’ and take a young person! It will give a more positive outlook on what is possible if you work hard, do your best, and are prepared.”
- “I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.”
- “Know how to learn. Then, want to learn.”
Robb Report - “Follow your passion. Whatever you’re doing, please do your best and make it as correct as possible. Work as if someone is watching you. Then you’ll be prepared when an opportunity presents itself. And you’ll have the answers.”
- “Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.”
- “I counted everything. I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to the church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed… anything that could be counted, I did.”
- “Many professors tell you that you’d be good at this or that, but they don’t always help you with that career path.”
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