Here I am at the turn of the millennium and I'm still the last man to have walked on the moon, somewhat disappointing. It says more about what we have not done than about what we have done.
Gene CernanRead
As we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind.
Interpretation
The quote reflects optimism about humanity's future exploration of space, emphasizing peace and hope.
Gene Cernan's quote encapsulates the spirit of exploration and the ultimate aspiration of humankind to venture beyond Earth while cherishing peace and hope. By referencing a return to the Moon, he evokes the continuity of human efforts in science and exploration, suggesting that our journeys are not just about discovery but also about fostering a brighter future for all people.
In practice
During a graduation speech about pursuing dreams and making a positive impact.
Here I am at the turn of the millennium and I'm still the last man to have walked on the moon, somewhat disappointing. It says more about what we have not done than about what we have done.
Nobody can take those footsteps I made on the surface of the moon away from me.
I'm quite disappointed that I'm still the last man on the moon.
I know the stars are my home. I learned about them, needed them for survival in terms of navigation. I know where I am when I look up at the sky. I know where I am when I look up at the Moon; it's not just some abstract romantic idea, it's something very real to me. See, I've expanded my home.
Prepare for the unknown, unexpected and inconceivable . . . after 50 years of flying I'm still learning every time I fly.
Yes, I am the last man to have walked on the moon, and that's a very dubious and disappointing honor. It's been far too long.
If the government regulates against use of drones or stem cells or artificial intelligence, all that means is that the work and the research leave the borders of that country and go someplace else.
The best scientist is open to experience and begins with romance - the idea that anything is possible.
There are grounds for cautious optimism that we may now be near the end ofthe search for the ultimate laws of nature.
People have always asked whether evolution is constantly driving onwards and upwards. Is there always going to be improvement? The answer is no: evolution is a progression of form and function, but it is not purposeful.
The fundamentalists deny that evolution has taken place; they deny that the earth and the universe as a whole are more than a few thousand years old, and so on. There is ample scientific evidence that the fundamentalists are wrong in these matters, and that their notions of cosmogony have about as much basis in fact as the Tooth Fairy has.
What I am going to tell you about is what we teach our physics students in the third or fourth year of graduate school... It is my task to convince you not to turn away because you don't understand it. You see my physics students don't understand it... That is because I don't understand it. Nobody does.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.