--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always wanted to be part of…" description: "\"I've always wanted to be part of something that would radically change the world. . . . People forget the power of inspiration. All of humanity went to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/elon-musk-1138_apollo_i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-part-of-somethi_1423095.jpg" --- # I've always wanted to be part of something that would… ![“I've always wanted to be part of something that would radically change the world. . . . People forget the power of inspiration. All of humanity went to the moon with the Apollo missions. The issue was cost. There was no chance to build a base and create frequent flights. That's the problem I would…” quote by Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/elon-musk-1138_apollo_i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-part-of-somethi_1423095.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/elon-musk-1138_apollo_i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-part-of-somethi_1423095.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/802/elon-musk-1138_apollo_i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-part-of-somethi_1423095.jpg) > “I've always wanted to be part of something that would radically change the world. . . . People forget the power of inspiration. All of humanity went to the moon with the Apollo missions. The issue was cost. There was no chance to build a base and create frequent flights. That's the problem I would like to solve.” [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker sees inspiration as a catalyst for massive change but notes that practical constraints like cost hinder ambitious projects. **In simple terms:** Inspiration drives big ideas, but money limits them. Key Takeaway Address cost barriers to enable transformative projects. Themes innovation inspiration space cost ambition Mood optimistic determined Type motivational visionary When to use this quote - space exploration - large‑scale engineering - public policy - private investment - education outreach Key Concepts economics technology human aspiration Questions to Reflect On - How can we fund high‑risk, high‑reward ventures? - What incentives make large‑scale projects sustainable? A Different Perspective Even with inspiration, without viable financing and infrastructure, visions remain unrealized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) [Apollo Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo-missions-2363815/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Change World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-world/) [Changing the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-the-world/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Flight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flight/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humanity Went](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity-went-5045514/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspiration Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration-humanity-1779642/) [Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Moon Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon-apollo-4354818/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Solve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solve/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I'm like that guy who single-handedly built the rocket and flew to the moon. What was his name? Apollo Creed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/i-m-like-that-guy-who-single-handedly-built-the-rocket-and-flew-to/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I was born in 1958, the same year NASA was established, which I like to think of as not a coincidence. I was 11…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-ochoa/i-was-born-in-1958-the-same-year-nasa-was-established-which-i-like-to/) [Ellen Ochoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-ochoa/) > [During one of the Apollo missions, I saw Walter Cronkite showing off the flight plan. It just mesmerized me. All this detail! That's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/during-one-of-the-apollo-missions-i-saw-walter-cronkite-showing-off/) [Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/) > [I think the people who experienced the Apollo missions came away from that experience wondering to themselves, 'When can we get a chance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-think-the-people-who-experienced-the-apollo-missions-came-away-from/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [During the period of the Saturn-Apollo missions we were pilgrims in space, ranging from home in search of knowledge. Now we will become shepherds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/during-the-period-of-the-saturn-apollo-missions-we-were-pilgrims-in/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I feel we need to remind the world about the Apollo missions and that we can still do impossible things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-feel-we-need-to-remind-the-world-about-the-apollo-missions-and-that/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [I do sort of feel like I'm building my monument with what I do, but it's pretty small and inconsequential compared to real works…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/i-do-sort-of-feel-like-i-m-building-my-monument-with-what-i-do-but-it/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [“Let your light shine as an inspiration to humanity and BE THE REASON someone believes in the goodness of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/let-your-light-shine-as-an-inspiration-to-humanity-and-be-the-reason/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [If you remember back to some of the television we saw, Buzz and Neil on the Moon with Apollo 11. Black and white. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bean/if-you-remember-back-to-some-of-the-television-we-saw-buzz-and-neil/) [Alan Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bean/) > [I'm a major NASA nerd, so I've spent a lot of time learning about the space race and the Apollo missions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-flanagan/i-m-a-major-nasa-nerd-so-i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-time-learning-about-the/) [Mike Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-flanagan/) > [I think I was very interested in the space program as a kid, watching the first Apollo missions to the moon, and it's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-kelly/i-think-i-was-very-interested-in-the-space-program-as-a-kid-watching/) [Mark Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-kelly/) > [I'm a conspiracy theorist. I can't help but look at the lunar landing and go, 'We didn't go to the moon.' We never went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-commerford/i-m-a-conspiracy-theorist-i-can-t-help-but-look-at-the-lunar-landing/) [Tim Commerford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-commerford/) > [It is despairing to consider that the cost and reliability of access to space have barely changed since the Apollo era over three decades…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/it-is-despairing-to-consider-that-the-cost-and-reliability-of-access/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [When I was in college, I wanted to be involved in things that would change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/when-i-was-in-college-i-wanted-to-be-involved-in-things-that-would/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [“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/) ## More by Elon Musk > [Nobody wants to buy a $60,000 electric Civic. But people will pay $90,000 for an electric sports car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/nobody-wants-to-buy-a-60-000-electric-civic-but-people-will-pay-90/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-think-we-should-be-very-careful-about-artificial-intelligence-if-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [Most people can learn a lot more than they think they can. They sell themselves short without trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/most-people-can-learn-a-lot-more-than-they-think-they-can-they-sell/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [Some companies out there quote a start of production that is substantially in advance of when customers get their cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/some-companies-out-there-quote-a-start-of-production-that-is/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [A company is a group organized to create a product or service, and it is only as good as its people and how excited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/a-company-is-a-group-organized-to-create-a-product-or-service-and-it/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I'm glad to see that BMW is bringing an electric car to market. That's cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-m-glad-to-see-that-bmw-is-bringing-an-electric-car-to-market-that-s/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [When we got Tesla going at the very beginning, if you asked me what I thought the odds of success were, I would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/when-we-got-tesla-going-at-the-very-beginning-if-you-asked-me-what-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [If we drive down the cost of transportation in space, we can do great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/if-we-drive-down-the-cost-of-transportation-in-space-we-can-do-great/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [In order for us to have a future that's exciting and inspiring, it has to be one where we're a space-bearing civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/in-order-for-us-to-have-a-future-that-s-exciting-and-inspiring-it-has/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [The lessons of history would suggest that civilisations move in cycles. You can track that back quite far - the Babylonians, the Sumerians, followed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-lessons-of-history-would-suggest-that-civilisations-move-in/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [The value of beauty and inspiration is very much underrated, no question. But I want to be clear: I'm not trying to be anyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-value-of-beauty-and-inspiration-is-very-much-underrated-no/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [If something's important enough, you should try. Even if - the probable outcome is failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/if-something-s-important-enough-you-should-try-even-if-the-probable/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [You should be innovating so fast that you're invalidating your prior patents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/you-should-be-innovating-so-fast-that-you-re-invalidating-your-prior/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I could either watch it happen or be a part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-could-either-watch-it-happen-or-be-a-part-of-it/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I'm anti-tax, but I'm pro-carbon tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-m-anti-tax-but-i-m-pro-carbon-tax/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) [Explore all 284 Elon Musk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) ## 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": "I've always wanted to be part of something that would radically change the world. . . . People forget the power of inspiration. All of humanity went to the moon with the Apollo missions. 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