It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.
Robert H. GoddardRead
How many more years I shall be able to work on the problem I do not know; I hope, as long as I live. There can be no thought of finishing, for 'aiming at the stars' both literally and figuratively, is a problem to occupy generations, so that no matter how much progress one makes, there is always the thrill of just beginning.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quest for knowledge and discovery is ongoing and eternal, emphasizing the journey rather than the destination.
In this quote, Robert H. Goddard reflects on the nature of scientific exploration and human ambition. He expresses the idea that while one may strive to achieve great things and make significant advancements, the pursuit of understanding and innovation is a lifelong journey. The mention of 'aiming at the stars' symbolizes both literal and metaphorical aspirations, suggesting that the challenge of progress is never truly complete, and every achievement opens the door to new questions and possibilities. This perspective highlights the excitement and endless potential inherent in the quest for knowledge, encouraging a mindset of continuous exploration and discovery.
Themes
DiscoveryJourneyScienceCuriosityExploration
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about innovation at a tech conference, one might refer to this quote to inspire attendees.
More from Robert H. Goddard
All quotes →The only barrier to human development is ignorance, and this is not insurmountable.
Robert H. GoddardRead
Every vision is a joke until the first man accomplishes it; once realized, it becomes commonplace.
Robert H. GoddardRead
It is not a simple matter to differentiate unsuccessful from successful experiments. . . .[Most] work that is finally successful is the result of a series of unsuccessful tests in which difficulties are gradually eliminated.
Robert H. GoddardRead
Similar quotes
What an odd time to be a fundamentalist about adaptation and natural selection - when each major subdiscipline of evolutionary biology has been discovering other mechanisms as adjuncts to selection's centrality.
Stephen Jay GouldRead
Mankind will not forever remain on Earth but, in the pursuit of light and space, will first timidly emerge from the bounds of the atmosphere and then advance until he has conquered the whole of circumsolar space.
Konstantin TsiolkovskyRead
The human brain is an incredible pattern-matching machine.
Jeff BezosRead
The goal is to learn more about telomere length and other markers of ageing, how best to measure these markers, how they are related to health and lifestyle, and how people respond to learning their own telomere length results.
Elizabeth BlackburnRead
Science is what we have learned about how to keep from fooling ourselves.
Richard P. FeynmanRead
I'm aware there are certain products that are being advertised - food products - with 'no chemicals whatsoever.' Well, that would be pretty hard to arrange, since everything around us is made up of atoms and molecules - chemicals - including ourselves.
Francis CollinsRead