Katherine Johnson
An American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics were critical to the success of the first U.S. crewed spaceflights.
Most quoted
"We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and will go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics."
— from Acceptance Speech, 2015
"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 the why. I wanted to know the how, and I wanted to know the when."
— from Interview
"I didn't allow their side-eyes and annoyed looks to intimidate or stop me. I also would persist even if I thought I was being ignored. If I encountered something I didn't understand, I'd just ask."
— from Interview
All quotes by Katherine Johnson (380)
I believe in education. I believe in learning.
I just wanted to do my part.
The sky is not the limit. It's just the beginning.
I never thought about being famous. I just wanted to do my job.
My father taught me to be independent and to think for myself.
I was always good at math, even as a little girl.
We were a team, and we worked together to solve problems.
I'm just a country girl who loved to count.
Don't let anyone tell you what you can't do.
I was always curious about how things worked.
Mathematics is the language of the universe.
I had a wonderful life, and I wouldn't change a thing.
My mother always told me to do my best.
I just loved the challenge of solving a problem.
It was an exciting time to be working at NASA.
I always tried to do my best, no matter what the task.
I hope my story inspires others to pursue their dreams.
I never let anything hold me back.
The most important thing is to believe in yourself.
You are no better than anyone else, and no one is better than you.
Contemporaries of Katherine Johnson
Other Mathematicss born within 50 years of Katherine Johnson (1918–2020).