--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow…" description: "\"As we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. As I take these ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/gene-cernan-30720_america_as-we-leave-the-moon-at-taurus-littrow-w_424020.jpg" --- # As we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we… ![“As we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. As I take these last steps from the surface for some time to come, I'd just like to record that America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow…” quote by Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/gene-cernan-30720_america_as-we-leave-the-moon-at-taurus-littrow-w_424020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/gene-cernan-30720_america_as-we-leave-the-moon-at-taurus-littrow-w_424020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79f/gene-cernan-30720_america_as-we-leave-the-moon-at-taurus-littrow-w_424020.jpg) > “As we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. As I take these last steps from the surface for some time to come, I'd just like to record that America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. Godspeed the crew of Apollo Seventeen.” [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The astronaut reflects on humanity’s shared destiny, hoping future missions bring peace and hope for all. **In simple terms:** Hopeful words about returning to the Moon and humanity’s future. Key Takeaway Seek peace and hope in collective endeavors. Themes exploration humanity hope Mood inspirational reflective Type historical motivational When to use this quote - space missions - international cooperation - education - inspiration Key Concepts destiny shared purpose future missions Questions to Reflect On - How can we ensure space exploration benefits all? - What responsibilities come with leaving a legacy? A Different Perspective Optimism may overlook challenges of political conflict and resource constraints. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) [Challenges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenges/) [Destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destiny/) [Gods will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-will/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Taurus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taurus/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) ## Related quotes > [As I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come...I'd like to just (say) what I believe history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/as-i-take-man-s-last-step-from-the-surface-back-home-for-some-time-to/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [As we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came, and God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-cernan/as-we-leave-the-moon-at-taurus-littrow-we-leave-as-we-came-and-god-2/) [Eugene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-cernan/) > [“The last man on the moon, Gene Cernan, had paused for a final look at the black beauty of the world about him. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shepard/the-last-man-on-the-moon-gene-cernan-had-paused-for-a-final-look-at/) [Alan Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shepard/) > [We leave as we came and, god willing, as we shall return, with peace, and hope for all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-leave-as-we-came-and-god-willing-as-we-shall-return-with-peace-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-borman/and-from-the-crew-of-apollo-8-we-close-with-good-night-good-luck-a/) [Frank Borman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-borman/) > [As I step off at the surface at Taurus-Littrow, I'd like to dedicate the first step of Apollo 17 to all those who made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/as-i-step-off-at-the-surface-at-taurus-littrow-i-d-like-to-dedicate/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [Jesus is the ultimate solution to every human problem and the ultimate hope for all mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-joyner/jesus-is-the-ultimate-solution-to-every-human-problem-and-the/) [Rick Joyner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-joyner/) > [Hope is mankind's greatest weakness and greatest strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hope-is-mankind-s-greatest-weakness-and-greatest-strength/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's said that prayer can move mountains. 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I feel the pain of others and I care.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-krizzan/i-know-there-is-hope-for-mankind-because-there-is-a-fire-inside-my/) [Anita Krizzan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-krizzan/) > [“What right have they to hope? They work ill and they want the reward of those who work well. The hope of mankind -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells-2/what-right-have-they-to-hope-they-work-ill-and-they-want-the-reward/) [H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells-2/) > [The United States remains the last best hope for a mankind plagued by tyranny and deprivation. America is no stronger than its people --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-united-states-remains-the-last-best-hope-for-a-mankind-plagued-by/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [For all its terrible faults, in one sense America is still the last, best hope of mankind, because it spells out so vividly the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-mount/for-all-its-terrible-faults-in-one-sense-america-is-still-the-last/) [Ferdinand Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-mount/) ## More by Gene Cernan > [I've been asked about UFOs and I've said publicly I thought they were somebody else, some other civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/i-ve-been-asked-about-ufos-and-i-ve-said-publicly-i-thought-they-were/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [I walked on the Moon. What can't you do?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/i-walked-on-the-moon-what-can-t-you-do/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [Prepare for the unknown, unexpected and inconceivable . . . after 50 years of flying I'm still learning every time I fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/prepare-for-the-unknown-unexpected-and-inconceivable-after-50-years/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [Once I finally stepped on the moon, no matter what was to come of the next three days - or the rest of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/once-i-finally-stepped-on-the-moon-no-matter-what-was-to-come-of-the/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [“I felt that I was literally standing on a plateau somewhere out there in space, a plateau that science and technology had allowed me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/i-felt-that-i-was-literally-standing-on-a-plateau-somewhere-out-there/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [The mass gross absence of sound in space is more than just silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/the-mass-gross-absence-of-sound-in-space-is-more-than-just-silence/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [As I take man's last step from the surface, back home for some time to come...I'd like to just (say) what I believe history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/as-i-take-man-s-last-step-from-the-surface-back-home-for-some-time-to/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [OK, let's get this mother out of here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/ok-let-s-get-this-mother-out-of-here/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [I hold the world speed record downhill, in a Rover. I think it was 17 kilometers per hour, downhill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/i-hold-the-world-speed-record-downhill-in-a-rover-i-think-it-was-17/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence and exploration has been part of humankind for a long time. The exploration of space, like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-and-exploration-has-been/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [I do believe there is life in outer space. Mathematically, there has to be, and if you believe as I do that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/i-do-believe-there-is-life-in-outer-space-mathematically-there-has-to/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [I know the stars are my home. I learned about them, needed them for survival in terms of navigation. I know where I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/i-know-the-stars-are-my-home-i-learned-about-them-needed-them-for/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [Yes, I am the last man to have walked on the moon, and that's a very dubious and disappointing honor. It's been far too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/yes-i-am-the-last-man-to-have-walked-on-the-moon-and-that-s-a-very/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) > [Another hundred years may pass before we understand the true significance of Apollo. Lunar exploration was not the equivalent of an American pyramid, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-cernan/another-hundred-years-may-pass-before-we-understand-the-true/) [Gene Cernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) [Explore all 17 Gene Cernan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-cernan/) ## More America quotes > [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/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? 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As I take these last steps from the surface for some time to come, I'd just like to record that America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. 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