--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A little later, the Apollo mission was…" description: "\"“A little later, the Apollo mission was consummated and there were Americans on the moon. I remember distinctly looking up from the quad on what was qu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/christopher-hitchens-117_goals_a-little-later-the-apollo-mission-was-co_2269053.jpg" --- # A little later, the Apollo mission was consummated and… ![“A little later, the Apollo mission was consummated and there were Americans on the moon. I remember distinctly looking up from the quad on what was quite a moon-flooded night, and thinking about it. They made it! The Stars and Stripes are finally flown on another orb! Also, English becomes the…” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/christopher-hitchens-117_goals_a-little-later-the-apollo-mission-was-co_2269053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/christopher-hitchens-117_goals_a-little-later-the-apollo-mission-was-co_2269053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a89/christopher-hitchens-117_goals_a-little-later-the-apollo-mission-was-co_2269053.jpg) > ““A little later, the Apollo mission was consummated and there were Americans on the moon. I remember distinctly looking up from the quad on what was quite a moon-flooded night, and thinking about it. They made it! The Stars and Stripes are finally flown on another orb! Also, English becomes the first and only language spoken on a neighboring rock! Who could forbear to cheer? Still, the experience was poisoned for me by having to watch Richard Nixon smirking as he babbled to the lunar-nauts by some closed-circuit link. Was even the silvery orb to be tainted by the base, earthbound reality of imperialism?”” [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The lunar achievement is celebrated, yet it is tainted by political propaganda and imperialist overtones, reflecting how triumphs can be co‑opted. **In simple terms:** Victory can be clouded by politics. Key Takeaway Critically assess celebrated narratives. Themes history politics colonialism media space exploration Mood reflective critical skeptical Type opinion historical When to use this quote - education - policy analysis - media critique - public speaking - writing Key Concepts imperialism propaganda nationalism celebration Questions to Reflect On - What role does media play in shaping space triumph narratives? - Can patriotism coexist with critique? A Different Perspective The quote may overgeneralize the Apollo mission’s impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Moon landing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon-landing/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [The exciting part for me, as a pilot, was the landing on the moon. That was the time that we had achieved the national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/the-exciting-part-for-me-as-a-pilot-was-the-landing-on-the-moon-that/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [“The dark circle became a dot on the moon-flooded snow as Spitz disappeared from view.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/the-dark-circle-became-a-dot-on-the-moon-flooded-snow-as-spitz/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [At the time of Apollo 11, I was a grade-schooler, and I remember every time an Apollo mission would take place that, like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/at-the-time-of-apollo-11-i-was-a-grade-schooler-and-i-remember-every/) [Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/) > [I felt most proud on the success of the Apollo mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-felt-most-proud-on-the-success-of-the-apollo-mission/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [When President Kennedy challenged Americans to go to the moon, the question wasn't whether we'd get there, it was only when we'd get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-president-kennedy-challenged-americans-to-go-to-the-moon-the/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [taking her hand he led her out into a broad stretch of hard sandy soil that the moon flooded with great splendor. They floated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/taking-her-hand-he-led-her-out-into-a-broad-stretch-of-hard-sandy/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [Girl Asked : Who Is Beautiful Me Or Moon ? Best Answer Given By a Boy :) I Don't Know But When I See…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/move-on07/girl-asked-who-is-beautiful-me-or-moon-best-answer-given-by-a-boy-i/) Move-on07 > [If I see my mom I forget the moon and if I see the moon I remember my mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-see-my-mom-i-forget-the-moon-and-if-i-see-the-moon-i-remember-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“How do we know where we're going? Follow the moon! Remember, the moon is always over Hollywood, and Needles isn't far from Hollywood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/how-do-we-know-where-we-re-going-follow-the-moon-remember-the-moon-is/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [But now that I am old, moving every year closer to the end of my life, I also feel closer to the beginning. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-tan/but-now-that-i-am-old-moving-every-year-closer-to-the-end-of-my-life/) [Amy Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-tan/) > [ “I can see why people find him \[Hugo Chávez\] charming. He's very ebullient, as they say. I've heard him make a speech, though, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-can-see-why-people-find-him-hugo-ch-vez-charming-he-s-very/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [In a Bloomberg poll, 88% of respondents said that Wall Street bonuses should either be banned outright or taxed at 50%. Just 7% said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-salmon/in-a-bloomberg-poll-88-of-respondents-said-that-wall-street-bonuses/) Felix Salmon > [“On Rachel's show for November 7, 2012: Ohio really did go to President Obama last night. and he really did win. And he really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/on-rachel-s-show-for-november-7-2012-ohio-really-did-go-to-president/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [ “For me, the most ironic token of \[the first human moon landing\] is the plaque signed by President Richard M. Nixon that Apollo 11… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/for-me-the-most-ironic-token-of-the-first-human-moon-landing-is-the/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“As everybody knows, a humungous thing happened on Sunday, July 20th, 1969, at exactly 4:17:41 E.D.T. The 'Eagle' has landed. Bingo. Just like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-turpin-myers/as-everybody-knows-a-humungous-thing-happened-on-sunday-july-20th/) [Janet Turpin Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-turpin-myers/) ## More by Christopher Hitchens > [“The spirit of our accurate and exact philosophy is outraged by conclusions that contradict each other so glaringly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/the-spirit-of-our-accurate-and-exact-philosophy-is-outraged-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“Many governments employ torture but this was the first time that the element of Saturnalia and pornography in the process had been made so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/many-governments-employ-torture-but-this-was-the-first-time-that-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. They think they'll be young and beautiful forever, even though most of them… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-los-angeles-mostly-full-of-nonsense-and-delusion-and-egomania/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [To be against rationalization is not the same as to be opposed to reasoning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/to-be-against-rationalization-is-not-the-same-as-to-be-opposed-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [ \[Religion\] attacks us in our deepest integrity - the core of our self-respect. Religion says that we would not know right from wrong, we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/religion-attacks-us-in-our-deepest-integrity-the-core-of-our-self/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“In the very recent past, we have seen the Church of Rome befouled by its complicity with the unpardonable sin of child rape, or,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/in-the-very-recent-past-we-have-seen-the-church-of-rome-befouled-by/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's surprising to me how many of my friends send Christmas cards, or holiday cards, including my atheist and secular friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-surprising-to-me-how-many-of-my-friends-send-christmas-cards-or/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Suppose there were groups of secularists at hospitals who went round the terminally ill and urged them to adopt atheism: 'Don't be a mug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/suppose-there-were-groups-of-secularists-at-hospitals-who-went-round/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [There are, after all, atheists who say they wish the fable were true but are unable to suspend the requisite disbelief, or who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/there-are-after-all-atheists-who-say-they-wish-the-fable-were-true/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [“It isn’t so long since a test of Anglican orthodoxy was applied to anyone seeking to study or teach at Oxford and Cambridge universities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-isn-t-so-long-since-a-test-of-anglican-orthodoxy-was-applied-to/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Gullibility and credulity are considered undesireable qualities in every department of human life - except religion ... Why are we praised by godly men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/gullibility-and-credulity-are-considered-undesireable-qualities-in/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's much worse to see a woman drunk than a man: I don't know quite why this is true but it just is. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-much-worse-to-see-a-woman-drunk-than-a-man-i-don-t-know-quite/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [It's true that obscenity is a matter of taste and in the eye of the beholder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/it-s-true-that-obscenity-is-a-matter-of-taste-and-in-the-eye-of-the/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I worked out early on to give up things I couldn't do well at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/i-worked-out-early-on-to-give-up-things-i-couldn-t-do-well-at-all/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [Writing is what's important to me, and anything that helps me do that - or enhances and prolongs and deepens and sometimes intensifies argument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/writing-is-what-s-important-to-me-and-anything-that-helps-me-do-that/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) [Explore all 1,241 Christopher Hitchens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A little later, the Apollo mission was consummated and there were Americans on the moon. I remember distinctly looking up from the quad on what was quite a moon-flooded night, and thinking about it. They made it! The Stars and Stripes are finally flown on another orb! Also, English becomes the first and only language spoken on a neighboring rock! 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