Portrait of Neil Armstrong

Neil Armstrong

First man on the moon

Modern influential 85 sayings

Sayings by Neil Armstrong

It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small.

c. 1970s-1980s — Remarks during a lecture
General Confirmed

I believe that the Good Lord gave us a finite number of heartbeats and I'm damned if I'm going to use up mine running up and down a basketball court.

Undated, likely early career — Reported by friends/biographers, often cited but direct recording is rare.
General Unverifiable

I don't believe in the Tooth Fairy, but I do believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.

Childhood anecdote — Reported in 'First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong' by James R. Hansen
General Unverifiable

We have the technology to go to Mars and beyond. We should use it.

c. 2000s — Interview
General Unverifiable

The path to the moon is not just a path to the moon, it's a path to the future of humanity.

c. 1970s — Speech
General Unverifiable

I have always been a firm believer in the power of the individual to make a difference.

Undated — Attributed, but precise source hard to pinpoint
General Unverifiable

Pilots take no special joy in walking. Pilots have a distaste for walking.

c. 1950s-1960s — Reported in 'First Man: The Life of Neil A. Armstrong' by James R. Hansen
General Unverifiable

I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.

N/A — A misattribution by some, often incorrectly linked to him, but actually Nathan Hale. Armstrong never…
General Unverifiable

We were very, very lucky. We were in a very good place at a very good time.

2005 — Interview on '60 Minutes'
General Unverifiable

The greatest value of space exploration is not in the discoveries we make, but in the discoveries we make about ourselves.

Undated — Attributed, but precise source hard to pinpoint
General Unverifiable

It's a grand and glorious feeling to be on the Moon.

1969 — Live transmission from the Moon, Apollo 11
General Unverifiable

I don't think that science or technology is going to solve all of our problems, but I think they're going to solve most of them.

c. 1990s — Interview
General Unverifiable

The world needs dreamers and the world needs doers. But above all, the world needs dreamers who do.

Undated — Attributed, but precise source hard to pinpoint
General Unverifiable

No matter how much experience you have, there is always something new to learn.

Undated — Attributed, but precise source hard to pinpoint
General Unverifiable

I was always a little uncomfortable with the level of celebrity that came with the moon landing.

c. 2000s — Interview
General Unverifiable

It's a great beginning to a new era.

1969 — Press conference after Apollo 11
General Unverifiable

The only way to do great work is to love what you do.

Undated — Attributed, but precise source hard to pinpoint (often attributed to Steve Jobs)
General Unverifiable

It's a very lonely place out there.

c. 1970s — Interview about being on the Moon
General Unverifiable

The primary goal of the space program was to get to the Moon before the Soviets.

c. 1990s — Interview
General Unverifiable

I put my thumb up to the window and covered the whole Earth. It was very profound.

c. 1970s — Interview
General Unverifiable
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