--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I live for that exhilarating moment when…" description: "\"I live for that exhilarating moment when I'm in an airplane rushing down the runway and pull on the stick and feel lift under its wings. It's a magical..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/gordon-cooper-30114_airplane_i-live-for-that-exhilarating-moment-when_1938809.jpg" --- # I live for that exhilarating moment when I'm in an… ![“I live for that exhilarating moment when I'm in an airplane rushing down the runway and pull on the stick and feel lift under its wings. It's a magical feeling to climb toward the heavens, seeing objects and people on the ground grow smaller and more insignificant. You have left that world beneath…” quote by Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/gordon-cooper-30114_airplane_i-live-for-that-exhilarating-moment-when_1938809.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/gordon-cooper-30114_airplane_i-live-for-that-exhilarating-moment-when_1938809.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1be/gordon-cooper-30114_airplane_i-live-for-that-exhilarating-moment-when_1938809.jpg) > “I live for that exhilarating moment when I'm in an airplane rushing down the runway and pull on the stick and feel lift under its wings. It's a magical feeling to climb toward the heavens, seeing objects and people on the ground grow smaller and more insignificant. You have left that world beneath you. You are inside the sky.” [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The thrill of flight comes from mastering a machine that lifts you above ordinary life, giving a sense of freedom and perspective. **In simple terms:** Flying feels like escaping the mundane and seeing the world from above. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges that lift you beyond the everyday. Themes adventure freedom perspective Mood exhilarated inspired Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - pilot training - space missions - skydiving - mountain climbing - business leadership Key Concepts aeronautics human aspiration control elevation Questions to Reflect On - What does “flight” symbolize for you? - How can you capture that sense of elevation in daily tasks? A Different Perspective The feeling can be fleeting and may not translate to everyday life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Exhilarating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exhilarating/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Magical Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magical-feeling/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plane/) [Runway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/runway/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“I've never felt so much at once. I've never needed to feel more. I lift my head and look back down into her eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/i-ve-never-felt-so-much-at-once-i-ve-never-needed-to-feel-more-i-lift/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [Shakira's music isn't my cup of tea, but the way she moves her hips reminds me of the feeling you get when you climb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-boyd/shakira-s-music-isn-t-my-cup-of-tea-but-the-way-she-moves-her-hips/) [Brandon Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-boyd/) > [Friends are the angels that lift us up when our wings have forgotten how to fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/friends-are-the-angels-that-lift-us-up-when-our-wings-have-forgotten/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I believe that friends are quiet angels who sit on our shoulders and lift our wings when we forget how to fly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-believe-that-friends-are-quiet-angels-who-sit-on-our-shoulders-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“ A good man’s prayers will from the deepest dungeon climb heavens’ height, and bring a blessing down. -Joanna Baillie ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/a-good-man-s-prayers-will-from-the-deepest-dungeon-climb-heavens/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [Now from the smooth deep ocean-stream the sun Began to climb the heavens, and with new rays Smote the surrounding fields.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/now-from-the-smooth-deep-ocean-stream-the-sun-began-to-climb-the/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [“To see the heavens, you must climb to the heavens." - Erudian proverb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-v-hilliard/to-see-the-heavens-you-must-climb-to-the-heavens-erudian-proverb/) J.V. Hilliard > [Don't be afraid to lift your wings And soar through life each day Find joy and love and happiness As you go along your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-be-afraid-to-lift-your-wings-and-soar-through-life-each-day/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think my philosophy on music is sort of like the difference between religion and spirituality or religion and faith. There's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-bonar/i-think-my-philosophy-on-music-is-sort-of-like-the-difference-between/) Haley Bonar > [LOVE, it's a magical feeling that can make us happy and also give us wounds that will never heal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-it-s-a-magical-feeling-that-can-make-us-happy-and-also-give-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a magical feeling to perform for 50,000 people. You decide when they cheer and when they are quiet. It's like you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-great-khali/it-is-a-magical-feeling-to-perform-for-50-000-people-you-decide-when/) [The Great Khali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-great-khali/) > [It's an incredible thing when you are creating something in a moment with the other people on stage and with an audience, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-graynor/it-s-an-incredible-thing-when-you-are-creating-something-in-a-moment/) [Ari Graynor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-graynor/) > [“I just want that magical feeling I wrote about years ago when I used to write the lyrics for the band’s rock ballads. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carian-cole/i-just-want-that-magical-feeling-i-wrote-about-years-ago-when-i-used/) [Carian Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carian-cole/) > [Love is a very beautiful and magical feeling ,but to love someone it also mean to have the courage to do the impossible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laylablack/love-is-a-very-beautiful-and-magical-feeling-but-to-love-someone-it/) Laylablack > [I'm going for sound really, and my fingers just go places. It's very, very strange, especially when something really good is happening, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-cullum/i-m-going-for-sound-really-and-my-fingers-just-go-places-it-s-very/) [Jamie Cullum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-cullum/) ## More by Gordon Cooper > [I have the normal desire, experienced by everybody who's ever flown an airplane with a certain amount of zoom capability, to go a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/i-have-the-normal-desire-experienced-by-everybody-who-s-ever-flown-an/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [Intelligent beings from other planets regularly visit our world in an effort to enter into contact with us. NASA and the American government know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/intelligent-beings-from-other-planets-regularly-visit-our-world-in-an/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [I did have an occasion in 1951 to have two days of observation of many flights of them, they were of different sizes, flying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/i-did-have-an-occasion-in-1951-to-have-two-days-of-observation-of/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [Information on UFOs, including sighting reports, has been and is still being officially withheld.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/information-on-ufos-including-sighting-reports-has-been-and-is-still/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [Every day, in the USA, our radar instruments capture objects of form and composition unknown to us. And there are thousands of witness reports…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/every-day-in-the-usa-our-radar-instruments-capture-objects-of-form/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [For many years I have lived with a secret, in a secrecy imposed on all specialists in astronautics. I can now reveal that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/for-many-years-i-have-lived-with-a-secret-in-a-secrecy-imposed-on-all/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [A saucer flew right over (us), put down three landing gears, and landed out on the dry lakebed. (The cameramen) went out there with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/a-saucer-flew-right-over-us-put-down-three-landing-gears-and-landed/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [While flying with several other USAF pilots over Germany in 1957, we sighted numerous radiant flying discs above us. We couldn't tell how high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/while-flying-with-several-other-usaf-pilots-over-germany-in-1957-we/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [Government is afraid that people may think the worst and panic about these creepy horrible invaders. So the idea is: We have to avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/government-is-afraid-that-people-may-think-the-worst-and-panic-about/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [Several days in a row we sighted groups of metallic, saucer-shaped vehicles at great altitudes over the base Germany, 1951 and we tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/several-days-in-a-row-we-sighted-groups-of-metallic-saucer-shaped/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [I believe that these extra-terrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets. Most astronauts were reluctant to discuss UFOs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/i-believe-that-these-extra-terrestrial-vehicles-and-their-crews-are/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [I know other astronauts share my feelings… And we know the government is sitting on hard evidence of UFOs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/i-know-other-astronauts-share-my-feelings-and-we-know-the-government/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [I believe that these extra-terrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets, which obviously are a little more technically advanced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/i-believe-that-these-extra-terrestrial-vehicles-and-their-crews-are-2/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [Father, we thank you, especially for letting me fly this flight - for the privilege of being able to be in this position, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/father-we-thank-you-especially-for-letting-me-fly-this-flight-for-the/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) > [Who was the best pilot I ever saw? You're lookin' at 'im.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-cooper/who-was-the-best-pilot-i-ever-saw-you-re-lookin-at-im/) [Gordon Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) [Explore all 17 Gordon Cooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-cooper/) ## More Airplane quotes > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [I shoot in black and white, sometimes color, sometimes if it looks good I shoot out the window of the airplanes or whatever, anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/i-shoot-in-black-and-white-sometimes-color-sometimes-if-it-looks-good/) [Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/) > [I've jumped out of an airplane 34 times. I've dove 212 feet under water. I've done a lot of things that defied death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/i-ve-jumped-out-of-an-airplane-34-times-i-ve-dove-212-feet-under/) [Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/) > [I believe that anyone who flies in an airplane and doesn't spend most of his time looking out the window wastes his money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-reisner/i-believe-that-anyone-who-flies-in-an-airplane-and-doesn-t-spend-most/) [Marc Reisner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-reisner/) > [We live in a world where it has become politically correct to avoid absolutes. Many want all religions to be given the same honor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-live-in-a-world-where-it-has-become-politically-correct-to-avoid/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [On the second airplane to france and we're done ! yeyyyyyyyyy !! this one was more full :P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shmmopy/on-the-second-airplane-to-france-and-we-re-done-yeyyyyyyyyy-this-one/) Shmmopy > [The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes. Me, I'd rather fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/len-morgan/the-way-i-see-it-you-can-either-work-for-a-living-or-you-can-fly/) Len Morgan > [I'm 17 years old. I'm not a straight-A student or anything. Even so, I figured out how to make an Internet that they can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/i-m-17-years-old-i-m-not-a-straight-a-student-or-anything-even-so-i/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [I don't have a fear of flying; I have a fear of crashing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/i-don-t-have-a-fear-of-flying-i-have-a-fear-of-crashing/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) > [From computers to information technology to airplanes, it has been America's unique blend of republican government and free-market capitalism that has allowed us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-nethercutt/from-computers-to-information-technology-to-airplanes-it-has-been/) [George Nethercutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-nethercutt/) > [I've been racking my brain. I've been trying to figure out how Bob Dole's luggage got on my airplane...I told the doctor, I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-ve-been-racking-my-brain-i-ve-been-trying-to-figure-out-how-bob/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Sometimes life is like being stuck in the middle-seat of an airplane, next to a ridiculously fat person and a crying baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-life-is-like-being-stuck-in-the-middle-seat-of-an-airplane/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm sure the most favorite airplane in my career would still be the Sabre F86 cleft wing , which allowed me to be credited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/i-m-sure-the-most-favorite-airplane-in-my-career-would-still-be-the/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [I do not use airplanes. They strike me as unsporting. You can have an automobile accident-and survive. 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