--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the phone rang, and I picked it up in the…" description: "\"“the phone rang, and I picked it up in the kitchen. It was Mac Evans, asking if I wanted to be an astronaut.”\" — Chris Hadfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/chris-hadfield-2011_quote_the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the_1537169.jpg" --- # the phone rang, and I picked it up in the kitchen. It was… ![“the phone rang, and I picked it up in the kitchen. It was Mac Evans, asking if I wanted to be an astronaut.” quote by Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/chris-hadfield-2011_quote_the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the_1537169.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/chris-hadfield-2011_quote_the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the_1537169.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/chris-hadfield-2011_quote_the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the_1537169.jpg) > ““the phone rang, and I picked it up in the kitchen. It was Mac Evans, asking if I wanted to be an astronaut.”” [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A chance phone call opened a dream possibility, showing how unexpected opportunities can spark big aspirations. **In simple terms:** Unexpected calls can inspire big dreams. Key Takeaway Stay open to unexpected opportunities. Themes inspiration career opportunity Mood hopeful curious Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career planning - space education - personal growth - networking Key Concepts space exploration personal destiny serendipity Questions to Reflect On - What unexpected opportunity could change your path? - How do you prepare for sudden possibilities? A Different Perspective Opportunities may be fleeting and require quick decision making. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evans Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evans-asking-5716706/) [Kitchen Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitchen-mac-5716708/) [Mac Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mac-evans-5716707/) [Phone Rang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phone-rang/) [Text](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/text/) [Wanted Astronaut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted-astronaut-938386/) ## Related quotes > [Who ever thought I would smile every time my phone rang because your name was What was showing on my screen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krisee-ellis/who-ever-thought-i-would-smile-every-time-my-phone-rang-because-your/) [Krisee Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krisee-ellis/) > [I wanted to become an astronaut because I believe that the exploration of space by humans is extremely important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-walker/i-wanted-to-become-an-astronaut-because-i-believe-that-the/) [Shannon Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-walker/) > [When I was a kid, people wanted to be an astronaut. Today, kids want to be famous, and that's totally the wrong approach. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/when-i-was-a-kid-people-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-today-kids-want-to/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I originally wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid. Then I had this huge fear of black holes because my brother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paris-jackson/i-originally-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-when-i-was-a-kid-then-i-had/) [Paris Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paris-jackson/) > [There was a point in my life where I either wanted to be an astronaut, an actor, a veterinarian, or a pirate. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bett-rickards/there-was-a-point-in-my-life-where-i-either-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut/) [Emily Bett Rickards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bett-rickards/) > [I always wanted to be an astronaut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-always-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid. I grew up in Houston. Gordo Cooper was my favorite astronaut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-when-i-was-a-kid-i-grew-up-in-houston/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [I wanted to be an astronaut and wanted to go to space camp, but then I found out that I was too short to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soleil-moon-frye/i-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-and-wanted-to-go-to-space-camp-but-then-i/) [Soleil Moon Frye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soleil-moon-frye/) > [Clearly, when I first started talking about the fact that I wanted to be an astronaut, I was in primary school, so people understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/clearly-when-i-first-started-talking-about-the-fact-that-i-wanted-to/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [I wanted to become president, and I wanted to become an astronaut. Because I was really good at math.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-embiid/i-wanted-to-become-president-and-i-wanted-to-become-an-astronaut/) [Joel Embiid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-embiid/) > [There was a small window when I wanted to be an astronaut. It may have coincided with not getting cast in a high school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-j-adams/there-was-a-small-window-when-i-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-it-may-have/) [Patrick J. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-j-adams/) > [Ever since I was a kid, I always wanted to be an astronaut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-van-acker/ever-since-i-was-a-kid-i-always-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut/) [Drew Van Acker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-van-acker/) > [I first told my parents that I wanted to be an astronaut when I was 3 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/i-first-told-my-parents-that-i-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-when-i-was-3/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [At the age of six, I declared that I wanted to be an astronaut. My mother thought that was just fine, as it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-grunsfeld/at-the-age-of-six-i-declared-that-i-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-my/) [John M. Grunsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-m-grunsfeld/) > [I didn't really decide that I wanted to be an astronaut for sure until the end of college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/i-didn-t-really-decide-that-i-wanted-to-be-an-astronaut-for-sure/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) ## More by Chris Hadfield > [“Wow, that was a really good sleep. I feel great. Hmm, that sounds like someone on the radio; maybe I’m still dreaming. Weird—the guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/wow-that-was-a-really-good-sleep-i-feel-great-hmm-that-sounds-like/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“Sometimes when people find out I’m an astronaut, they ask, “So what do you do when you’re not flying in space?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/sometimes-when-people-find-out-i-m-an-astronaut-they-ask-so-what-do/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [My optimism and confidence come not from feeling I'm luckier than other mortals, and they sure don't come from visualizing victory. They're the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/my-optimism-and-confidence-come-not-from-feeling-i-m-luckier-than/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Our training pushes us to develop a new set of instincts: instead of reacting to danger with a fight-or-flight adrenaline rush, we're trained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/our-training-pushes-us-to-develop-a-new-set-of-instincts-instead-of/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“That’s how I approach just about everything. I spend my life getting ready to play “Rocket Man.” I picture the most demanding challenge; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/that-s-how-i-approach-just-about-everything-i-spend-my-life-getting/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“Many people object to “wasting money in space” yet have no idea how much is actually spent on space exploration. The CSA’s budget, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/many-people-object-to-wasting-money-in-space-yet-have-no-idea-how/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Don't let life randomly kick you into the adult you don't want to become](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/don-t-let-life-randomly-kick-you-into-the-adult-you-don-t-want-to/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [The Soyuz craft weighs tons, and you're lying on the floor of it on your back. But the Russians do tell you, remember, before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/the-soyuz-craft-weighs-tons-and-you-re-lying-on-the-floor-of-it-on/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“They have the impression that between launches, we pretty much sit around in a waiting room in Houston trying to catch our breath before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/they-have-the-impression-that-between-launches-we-pretty-much-sit/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [It's almost comical that astronauts are stereotyped as daredevils and cowboys. As a rule, we're highly methodical and detail-oriented. Our passion isn't for thrills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/it-s-almost-comical-that-astronauts-are-stereotyped-as-daredevils-and/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“If you’re an adrenaline junkie, I understand why you’d find that exciting. But I’m not, and I don’t. To me, the only good reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/if-you-re-an-adrenaline-junkie-i-understand-why-you-d-find-that/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [I once made myself black out by pulling G too quickly while flying an F-18. Being unconscious in a single-seat airplane is not good.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/i-once-made-myself-black-out-by-pulling-g-too-quickly-while-flying-an/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“When you have some skills but don’t fully understand your environment, there is no way you can be a plus one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/when-you-have-some-skills-but-don-t-fully-understand-your-environment/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [Anticipating problems and figuring out how to solve them is actually the opposite of worrying: it's productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/anticipating-problems-and-figuring-out-how-to-solve-them-is-actually/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [I think there are lots of ways to exercise ambition and accomplish things using leadership without going into elected politics. So, categorically, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/i-think-there-are-lots-of-ways-to-exercise-ambition-and-accomplish/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) [Explore all 191 Chris Hadfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) ## More Text quotes > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [If I'm not thinking about you then I am texting you , if I am not texting you then I am on the phone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-m-not-thinking-about-you-then-i-am-texting-you-if-i-am-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [\*Calling someone I don't want to answer\* \*Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail..\* Hello? -\_\_\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/calling-someone-i-don-t-want-to-answer-please-go-to-voice-mail-please/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [No calls? I understand. No text? I understand. But when you see me with someone else…please understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhat/no-calls-i-understand-no-text-i-understand-but-when-you-see-me-with/) [Zhat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhat/) > [How do you keep an idiot in suspense? Leave a message and Ill get back to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-do-you-keep-an-idiot-in-suspense-leave-a-message-and-ill-get-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The biggest pain in the ass when your battery on your phone is dieing..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/the-biggest-pain-in-the-ass-when-your-battery-on-your-phone-is-dieing/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [The Text is not a definitive object.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/the-text-is-not-a-definitive-object/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Don't take anyone for granted, just because they texts you first doesn't mean they're going to chase you around and be your last choice..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-take-anyone-for-granted-just-because-they-texts-you-first-doesn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You text him, he doesn't text back. He obviously was so excited that you texted him and he fainted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luphielia/you-text-him-he-doesn-t-text-back-he-obviously-was-so-excited-that/) [Luphielia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luphielia/) > [I am out in public and using the phone. I am in a phone booth, got the phone in my hand and a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-engvall/i-am-out-in-public-and-using-the-phone-i-am-in-a-phone-booth-got-the/) [Bill Engvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-engvall/) > [My ex texted me saying, You can delete my number, I don't give a damn no more. I texted back saying, Who's this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/my-ex-texted-me-saying-you-can-delete-my-number-i-don-t-give-a-damn/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [People call me and always leave a voice mail to call them right back.. Who the hell are they ? That option is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/people-call-me-and-always-leave-a-voice-mail-to-call-them-right-back/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [ \[Answering the phone\] Hello, this is a recording, you've dialed the right number, now hang up and don't do it again. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra/answering-the-phone-hello-this-is-a-recording-you-ve-dialed-the-right/) [Frank Sinatra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra/) > [If I could send myself a bunch of snake emojis, I probably would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaska/if-i-could-send-myself-a-bunch-of-snake-emojis-i-probably-would/) [Alaska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaska/) [Browse all 1,941 Text quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/text/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the phone rang, and I picked it up in the kitchen. It was Mac Evans, asking if I wanted to be an astronaut.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Chris Hadfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the-kitchen-it-was-mac-evans/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Text" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the-kitchen-it-was-mac-evans/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/chris-hadfield-2011_quote_the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the_1537169.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/chris-hadfield-2011_quote_the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the_1537169.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/chris-hadfield-2011_quote_the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the_1537169.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“the phone rang, and I picked it up in the kitchen. It was Mac Evans, asking if I wanted to be an astronaut.” — Chris Hadfield", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Chris Hadfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“the phone rang, and I picked...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the-kitchen-it-was-mac-evans/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/the-phone-rang-and-i-picked-it-up-in-the-kitchen-it-was-mac-evans/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```