--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was only a hero by default. The flights…" description: "\"I was only a hero by default. The flights were few and far between. There weren't that many astronauts. The moon flights were so interesting and exciti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/jim-lovell-16435_astronauts_i-was-only-a-hero-by-default-the-flights_601094.jpg" --- # I was only a hero by default. The flights were few and far… ![“I was only a hero by default. The flights were few and far between. There weren't that many astronauts. The moon flights were so interesting and exciting.” quote by Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/jim-lovell-16435_astronauts_i-was-only-a-hero-by-default-the-flights_601094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/jim-lovell-16435_astronauts_i-was-only-a-hero-by-default-the-flights_601094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/jim-lovell-16435_astronauts_i-was-only-a-hero-by-default-the-flights_601094.jpg) > “I was only a hero by default. The flights were few and far between. There weren't that many astronauts. The moon flights were so interesting and exciting.” [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Astronauts were rare, making spaceflight an exclusive, thrilling experience that defined heroism. **In simple terms:** Space heroes were few and special. Key Takeaway Value rare opportunities and cherish them. Themes exploration heroism rarity adventure Mood proud excited Type inspirational historical When to use this quote - STEM education - space tourism - inspiring youth Key Concepts Spaceflight heroic identity public fascination Questions to Reflect On - How does rarity shape our perception of heroism? - What can make space exploration more inclusive? A Different Perspective Limited astronaut numbers can create elitist narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Astronauts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronauts/) [Astronauts Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronauts-moon-1246106/) [Between](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/between/) [Default](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/default/) [Exciting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exciting/) [Far](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/far/) [Few](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/few/) [Flights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flights/) [Flights Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flights-interesting-4901417/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Moon Flights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon-flights-4901416/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Were](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/were/) [Weren Astronauts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weren-astronauts-3432142/) ## Related quotes > [There weren't any astronauts until I was about 10. Yuri Gagarin went into space right around my 10th birthday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-phillips/there-weren-t-any-astronauts-until-i-was-about-10-yuri-gagarin-went/) [John L. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-phillips/) > [I'm 9, 10, and I'm watching the Apollo astronauts go to the moon. We're sitting on the floor of a school, and they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/i-m-9-10-and-i-m-watching-the-apollo-astronauts-go-to-the-moon-we-re/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) > [More astronauts have been to the moon than farmers who paid the inheritance tax in 2013.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/more-astronauts-have-been-to-the-moon-than-farmers-who-paid-the/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's very dangerous to put astronauts on a moon base where there's radiation, solar flares and micro meteorites. It'd be much better to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/it-s-very-dangerous-to-put-astronauts-on-a-moon-base-where-there-s/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Law of Airlines: The shorter the time between flights, the greater the distance between gates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/law-of-airlines-the-shorter-the-time-between-flights-the-greater-the/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [“newspaper ads for lost pets and earthquakes that soon follow. Other studies indicate a higher rate of last-minute cancellations for airplane flights that crash.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/newspaper-ads-for-lost-pets-and-earthquakes-that-soon-follow-other/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [In absolute terms, we may have to look at restricting the number of flights people take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/in-absolute-terms-we-may-have-to-look-at-restricting-the-number-of/) [Adair Turner, Baron Turner of Ecchinswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adair-turner-baron-turner-of-ecchinswell/) > [“Budget airlines are often making money from canceling their passengers flights and not refunding them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/budget-airlines-are-often-making-money-from-canceling-their/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [There was always that thing with 'Johnny' - I always saw myself as his writer and PR. But when he got out there, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-vegas/there-was-always-that-thing-with-johnny-i-always-saw-myself-as-his/) [Johnny Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-vegas/) > [It may be no surprise that Pittsburgh has direct flights to London, Paris and Frankfurt, but consider this: many of the tourists here have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-dedman/it-may-be-no-surprise-that-pittsburgh-has-direct-flights-to-london/) [Bill Dedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-dedman/) > [“Budget airlines are notorious for over selling their flights and bumping passengers when too many show up!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/budget-airlines-are-notorious-for-over-selling-their-flights-and/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [When I go to the U.S., the flights are long, and they do affect the body clock, but they are worth it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-davies/when-i-go-to-the-u-s-the-flights-are-long-and-they-do-affect-the-body/) [Sara Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-davies/) > [After the Shuttle checks out on its two upcoming flights, it will be ready to take larger components up to the International Space Station…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-garneau/after-the-shuttle-checks-out-on-its-two-upcoming-flights-it-will-be/) [Marc Garneau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-garneau/) > [I travel on 150 flights a year; I am everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-leung/i-travel-on-150-flights-a-year-i-am-everywhere/) [Alvin Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-leung/) > [A novel wouldn't be a book if there weren't some flights of fancy on the part of the author, stopping time to examine things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/a-novel-wouldn-t-be-a-book-if-there-weren-t-some-flights-of-fancy-on/) [Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/) ## More by Jim Lovell > [Be thankful for problems. If they were less difficult, someone with less ability might have your job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/be-thankful-for-problems-if-they-were-less-difficult-someone-with/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [I would suspect strongly that over a period of time, if we put our mind to going to Mars, it will be a consortium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/i-would-suspect-strongly-that-over-a-period-of-time-if-we-put-our/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [In space-flight terms, six landings on the moon back in the Sixties and Seventies doesn't mean much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/in-space-flight-terms-six-landings-on-the-moon-back-in-the-sixties/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [The real friends of the space voyager are the stars. Their friendly, familiar patterns are constant companions, unchanging, out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/the-real-friends-of-the-space-voyager-are-the-stars-their-friendly/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [If you're going to go into space, you have to have an objective, a mission. Where do you want to go? Earth orbit? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/if-you-re-going-to-go-into-space-you-have-to-have-an-objective-a/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [ Err Houston, we've had a problem. \[pause\] We've had a main B bus undervolt. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/err-houston-we-ve-had-a-problem-pause-we-ve-had-a-main-b-bus-undervolt/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [I was a naval officer and aviator. I tested airplanes and got selected to be an astronaut later on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/i-was-a-naval-officer-and-aviator-i-tested-airplanes-and-got-selected/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [We do not realize what we have on Earth until we leave it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/we-do-not-realize-what-we-have-on-earth-until-we-leave-it/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [Well, Frank, my thoughts are very similar. The vast loneliness up here at the moon is awe-inspiring, and it makes you realize what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/well-frank-my-thoughts-are-very-similar-the-vast-loneliness-up-here/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [I take the NASA physical every year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/i-take-the-nasa-physical-every-year/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [I never thought I didn't have a card to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/i-never-thought-i-didn-t-have-a-card-to-play/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [We learned a lot about the Moon, but what we really learned was about the Earth. The fact that just from the distance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/we-learned-a-lot-about-the-moon-but-what-we-really-learned-was-about/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [Boys like either dinosaurs or airplanes. I was very much an airplane boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/boys-like-either-dinosaurs-or-airplanes-i-was-very-much-an-airplane/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [For most of the time carrier aviation is more challenging than flying in a spacecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/for-most-of-the-time-carrier-aviation-is-more-challenging-than-flying/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) > [The fascination to go into space has existed for hundreds of years. But as we do things and they're successful, people get bored.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lovell/the-fascination-to-go-into-space-has-existed-for-hundreds-of-years/) [Jim Lovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) [Explore all 40 Jim Lovell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lovell/) ## More Astronauts quotes > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [“Hero love?” I was puzzled. “You know. The kind of love you have for someone you want to be like: Marines, astronauts, cowboys, teachers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-dirks/hero-love-i-was-puzzled-you-know-the-kind-of-love-you-have-for/) [Leland Dirks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-dirks/) > [“Living close to the ground Is seventh Heaven 'cause there are angels all around Among my frivolous thoughts I believe there are beautiful things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owl-city/living-close-to-the-ground-is-seventh-heaven-cause-there-are-angels/) [Owl City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owl-city/) > [“We're giving each other space." "You know what I think?" He shook his head. "Space is for astronauts." ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-mcpartlin/we-re-giving-each-other-space-you-know-what-i-think-he-shook-his-head/) [Anna McPartlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-mcpartlin/) > [Astronauts are like these mythic legends, but really, they are just regular people, people who wear chinos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/astronauts-are-like-these-mythic-legends-but-really-they-are-just/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [“The Congresswoman was depressed by the fact that a woman of her standing could no longer count on making it to the rest room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-giffords/the-congresswoman-was-depressed-by-the-fact-that-a-woman-of-her/) [Gabrielle Giffords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-giffords/) > [All astronauts, even civilians like me without pilot experience, have to learn how to co-pilot a jet called a T-38.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-koch/all-astronauts-even-civilians-like-me-without-pilot-experience-have/) [Christina Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-koch/) > [More astronauts have been to the moon than farmers who paid the inheritance tax in 2013.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/more-astronauts-have-been-to-the-moon-than-farmers-who-paid-the/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [For the first time American astronauts on the International Space Station ate vegetables grown in space. In other words, even space is getting more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/for-the-first-time-american-astronauts-on-the-international-space/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [It's almost comical that astronauts are stereotyped as daredevils and cowboys. As a rule, we're highly methodical and detail-oriented. Our passion isn't for thrills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/it-s-almost-comical-that-astronauts-are-stereotyped-as-daredevils-and/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [“Seriously hairy shit was going down on a regular basis.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-roach/seriously-hairy-shit-was-going-down-on-a-regular-basis/) [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) > [No astronauts look like George Clooney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shaffir/no-astronauts-look-like-george-clooney/) [Ari Shaffir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shaffir/) > [“Mma Ramotswe found it difficult to imagine what it would be like to have no people. There were, she knew, those who had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/mma-ramotswe-found-it-difficult-to-imagine-what-it-would-be-like-to/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [Astronauts have been stuck in low-Earth orbit, boldly going nowhere. American attempts to kick-start a new phase of lunar exploration have stalled amid the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/astronauts-have-been-stuck-in-low-earth-orbit-boldly-going-nowhere/) [Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/) > [In a big picture sense, it's more national prestige that we're risking. You know, we are proud of our space program, but as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-chiao/in-a-big-picture-sense-it-s-more-national-prestige-that-we-re-risking/) [Leroy Chiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-chiao/) [Browse all 138 Astronauts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronauts/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was only a hero by default. The flights were few and far between. There weren't that many astronauts. 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