--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We went to the Moon as technicians; we…" description: "\"We went to the Moon as technicians; we returned as humanitarians.\" — Edgar Mitchell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/edgar-mitchell-6104_apollo_we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-re_2667954.png" --- # We went to the Moon as technicians; we returned as… ![“We went to the Moon as technicians; we returned as humanitarians.” quote by Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/edgar-mitchell-6104_apollo_we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-re_2667954.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/edgar-mitchell-6104_apollo_we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-re_2667954.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/edgar-mitchell-6104_apollo_we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-re_2667954.png) > “We went to the Moon as technicians; we returned as humanitarians.” [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Technical achievements can lead to humanitarian perspectives. **In simple terms:** Tech can inspire humanity. Key Takeaway Use knowledge for compassion. Themes space exploration humanity technology Mood inspirational hopeful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - space programs - education - policy making Key Concepts ethical responsibility global stewardship Questions to Reflect On - How can space science benefit everyday life? - What responsibilities do astronauts have? A Different Perspective Technical focus may overlook immediate human needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Humanitarians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanitarians/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Moon Technicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon-technicians-2481044/) [Returned Humanitarians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/returned-humanitarians-2481045/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Technicians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technicians/) [Technicians Returned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technicians-returned-2481046/) [Went Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-moon-259691/) ## Related quotes > [Unfortunately, the attitude of many towards the press, humanitarians included and especially government workers, is often one of suspicion, if not outright fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-adams/unfortunately-the-attitude-of-many-towards-the-press-humanitarians/) [Alvin Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-adams/) > [“It is character that should be the sole measure of judgement in the society of thinking humanity, and nothing short of that would do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/it-is-character-that-should-be-the-sole-measure-of-judgement-in-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“If origin defines race, then we are all Africans – we are all black.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-origin-defines-race-then-we-are-all-africans-we-are-all-black/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Too often, as a global community of humanitarians, we meet the needs of the same families, the same individuals, the same communities crisis after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ertharin-cousin/too-often-as-a-global-community-of-humanitarians-we-meet-the-needs-of/) [Ertharin Cousin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ertharin-cousin/) > [There are few professions whose primary objective is to advance the cause of humanity rather than simply to make money or accrue power. Among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-mcdevitt/there-are-few-professions-whose-primary-objective-is-to-advance-the/) [Jack McDevitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-mcdevitt/) > [“Call up the ever-pure, the effulgent and the ever-radiant character of true humanism in yourself and in others, and no racism shall have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/call-up-the-ever-pure-the-effulgent-and-the-ever-radiant-character-of/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Sentiments that glorify humanity know no racial distinction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/sentiments-that-glorify-humanity-know-no-racial-distinction/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I do think that humanitarians and journalists alike have focused on all the things that go wrong, and that they sometimes leave the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-do-think-that-humanitarians-and-journalists-alike-have-focused-on/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [“In the biological sense, race does not exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/in-the-biological-sense-race-does-not-exist/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The modern world is full of the old Christian virtues gone mad. The virtues have gone mad because they have been isolated from each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-modern-world-is-full-of-the-old-christian-virtues-gone-mad-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“If I could remove one thing from the world and replace it with something else, I would erase politics and put art in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/if-i-could-remove-one-thing-from-the-world-and-replace-it-with/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“You may be James the American, or Mary the British, or anything else, but before all that, you are a human.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-may-be-james-the-american-or-mary-the-british-or-anything-else/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [The time is fast coming when politicians will cease to fear the religion of humanity and humanitarians will find entrance into political life indispensable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-time-is-fast-coming-when-politicians-will-cease-to-fear-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The world needs many more humanitarians than it needs warriors, but there can be none of the former without enough of the latter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-greitens/the-world-needs-many-more-humanitarians-than-it-needs-warriors-but/) [Eric Greitens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-greitens/) > [Usually, so far as improvement in the people's economic conditions is concerned, humanitarians simply play the role of the busybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilfredo-pareto/usually-so-far-as-improvement-in-the-people-s-economic-conditions-is/) [Vilfredo Pareto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilfredo-pareto/) ## More by Edgar Mitchell > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [We do need different types of propulsion to get to Mars. I wrote one of the first Ph.D. theses on that in the 1960s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-do-need-different-types-of-propulsion-to-get-to-mars-i-wrote-one/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Our success and our understanding is that all beings are right inside, the deeper we go inside ourselves. There's a saying that Unity uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/our-success-and-our-understanding-is-that-all-beings-are-right-inside/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [To kill a citizen of our own country is evil, but to kill a citizen of another country is 'good.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/to-kill-a-citizen-of-our-own-country-is-evil-but-to-kill-a-citizen-of/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/you-develop-an-instant-global-consciousness-a-people-orientation-an/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [When I learned that aliens really do exist, I wasn't too surprised. But what did shock me when I started investigating extra-terrestrial reports a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/when-i-learned-that-aliens-really-do-exist-i-wasn-t-too-surprised-but/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I believe we have these capabilities. It doesn't mean that we will use them. Our future is not assured here. It's not clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/i-believe-we-have-these-capabilities-it-doesn-t-mean-that-we-will-use/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [What we're starting to see is a quantum biology, it being applied in biology and cosmology and a host of other sciences, because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/what-we-re-starting-to-see-is-a-quantum-biology-it-being-applied-in/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [The Big Bang has gone away, but as far as Super String, that is suspicious for me. It all starts out with the notion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/the-big-bang-has-gone-away-but-as-far-as-super-string-that-is/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Unfortunately, religions have become a part of the problem instead of part of the solution. We have fought our wars in the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/unfortunately-religions-have-become-a-part-of-the-problem-instead-of/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Another way to think of this is there are now 6.8 billion people on this planet, and half of them weren't even born when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/another-way-to-think-of-this-is-there-are-now-6-8-billion-people-on/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [We all know that UFOs are real. All we need to ask is where do they come from, and what do they want?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-all-know-that-ufos-are-real-all-we-need-to-ask-is-where-do-they/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Undoubtedly we will go on to Mars in due course, provided we don't blow ourselves up with our stupidities in the short run. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/undoubtedly-we-will-go-on-to-mars-in-due-course-provided-we-don-t/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [The quantum hologram is a mechanism to explain this concept of the ancients of the Akashic Records. It also explains Rupert Sheldrake's work among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/the-quantum-hologram-is-a-mechanism-to-explain-this-concept-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Our mission on Apollo 14 was to be the first to do science on the moon, so we had to be careful about getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/our-mission-on-apollo-14-was-to-be-the-first-to-do-science-on-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) [Explore all 100 Edgar Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) ## More Apollo quotes > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Kennedy had made a mess in Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. He had to do something to look good. The Apollo program of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/kennedy-had-made-a-mess-in-cuba-at-the-bay-of-pigs-he-had-to-do/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [Apollo?” I guessed… He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.” A god named Fred?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/apollo-i-guessed-he-put-a-finger-to-his-lips-i-m-incognito-call-me/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [I think if you were between maybe 6 and 16, there was nothing like Apollo, and I wonder if there can be something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/i-think-if-you-were-between-maybe-6-and-16-there-was-nothing-like/) [Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/) > [Apollo was a big, unwieldy vehicle. I had a problem with the flight controllers over that. It would try to fare its way like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/apollo-was-a-big-unwieldy-vehicle-i-had-a-problem-with-the-flight/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [I used to be a street performer, and performances on Venice Beach, it's like playing the Apollo: They let you know if they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/i-used-to-be-a-street-performer-and-performances-on-venice-beach-it-s/) [Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/) > [I owe much of my success to Seann Walsh. He kept recommending me for Live At The Apollo until eventually the producers offered me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-owe-much-of-my-success-to-seann-walsh-he-kept-recommending-me-for/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) > [A typical smart phone has more computing power than Apollo 11 when it landed a man on the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/a-typical-smart-phone-has-more-computing-power-than-apollo-11-when-it/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Armstrong, sitting in the commander's seat, spacesuit on, helmet on, plugged into electrical and environmental umbilical's, is a man who is not only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/armstrong-sitting-in-the-commander-s-seat-spacesuit-on-helmet-on/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Have any of you taken a look out at Greece in the last, say, hour or so? (Hermes) What? Are they reacting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/have-any-of-you-taken-a-look-out-at-greece-in-the-last-say-hour-or-so/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I couldn’t say I was surprised that Apollo hadn’t given me a lot to work on. The jerk was known for delivering little to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-couldn-t-say-i-was-surprised-that-apollo-hadn-t-given-me-a-lot-to/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“As additional precautions, Kranz requested that a two-hundred-foot radio antenna (called a deep-space dish) in Australia be added to the global network tracking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-s-f-cooper-jr/as-additional-precautions-kranz-requested-that-a-two-hundred-foot/) [Henry S.F. Cooper Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-s-f-cooper-jr/) > [“He saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-saw-her-eyes-bright-as-stars-he-saw-her-lips-and-was-not-satisfied/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Among the gods, there is a dispute as to which one of them originally thought of Christianity; or, as they call it, the Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holt/among-the-gods-there-is-a-dispute-as-to-which-one-of-them-originally/) [Tom Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holt/) [Browse all 382 Apollo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We went to the Moon as technicians; we returned as humanitarians.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edgar Mitchell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-returned-as-humanitarians/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apollo" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-returned-as-humanitarians/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/edgar-mitchell-6104_apollo_we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-re_2667954.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/edgar-mitchell-6104_apollo_we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-re_2667954.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/edgar-mitchell-6104_apollo_we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-re_2667954.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We went to the Moon as technicians; we returned as humanitarians.” — Edgar Mitchell", "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": "Edgar Mitchell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We went to the Moon as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-returned-as-humanitarians/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-went-to-the-moon-as-technicians-we-returned-as-humanitarians/#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 } } ] } ```