--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We thought that the odds of things…" description: "\"We thought that the odds of things working OK were up in the upper 90 percent or we wouldn't have gone. But the - there were some problems cropped up o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/john-glenn-12081_able_we-thought-that-the-odds-of-things-worki_1156412.jpg" --- # We thought that the odds of things working OK were up in… ![“We thought that the odds of things working OK were up in the upper 90 percent or we wouldn't have gone. But the - there were some problems cropped up on the flight but was able to take care of those OK and - although they were things that we hadn't really trained that much for. But it was the time…” quote by John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/john-glenn-12081_able_we-thought-that-the-odds-of-things-worki_1156412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/john-glenn-12081_able_we-thought-that-the-odds-of-things-worki_1156412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/john-glenn-12081_able_we-thought-that-the-odds-of-things-worki_1156412.jpg) > “We thought that the odds of things working OK were up in the upper 90 percent or we wouldn't have gone. But the - there were some problems cropped up on the flight but was able to take care of those OK and - although they were things that we hadn't really trained that much for. But it was the time of the Cold War and so there were was a lot of pressure on the - to get going and the Russians were claiming that they were - Soviets were claiming they were ahead of us in technology.” [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despite technical issues, the mission proceeded under intense geopolitical pressure, illustrating resolve amid uncertainty. **In simple terms:** Mission continued despite problems because of Cold War pressure. Key Takeaway Stay focused on goals despite setbacks. Themes determination politics risk technology teamwork Mood reflective historical inspirational Type speech memoir historical When to use this quote - spaceflight - military competition - project leadership Key Concepts cold war tension mission management problem solving Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle pressure in critical projects? - What safeguards can prevent shortcuts? A Different Perspective Pressure can lead to rushed decisions and overlooked safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Claiming Soviets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claiming-soviets-3292369/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [Flight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flight/) [Gone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gone/) [Odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds/) [Percent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Russians Claiming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russians-claiming-3292370/) [Soviets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviets/) [Soviets Claiming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soviets-claiming-3292368/) [Take care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/take-care/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [It was the time of the Cold War and so there were was a lot of pressure on the - to get going and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/it-was-the-time-of-the-cold-war-and-so-there-were-was-a-lot-of/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [Americans think Soviets are so grim. I want them to see that they can smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yakov-smirnoff/americans-think-soviets-are-so-grim-i-want-them-to-see-that-they-can/) [Yakov Smirnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yakov-smirnoff/) > [In 1972-73, the Soviets began running operations against me. In 1977, these operations became very serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-larouche/in-1972-73-the-soviets-began-running-operations-against-me-in-1977/) [Lyndon LaRouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-larouche/) > [The Soviets held to the tradition of colonialism. They raped the country and killed many people. But they also built dams, electrical power plants,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-rashid/the-soviets-held-to-the-tradition-of-colonialism-they-raped-the/) [Ahmed Rashid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-rashid/) > [“Out on the Nevsky, in the deepening dusk, a long double file of cyclists came riding, guns slung on their shoulders. They halted, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reed/out-on-the-nevsky-in-the-deepening-dusk-a-long-double-file-of/) [John Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reed/) > [“Most of the states of Europe had no prospect of social transformation, and thus little ability to rival or counter the Nazis and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-snyder/most-of-the-states-of-europe-had-no-prospect-of-social-transformation/) [Timothy Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-snyder/) > [In my view, there's no doubt that the Soviets had infinitely greater trouble holding their structure together than we did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/in-my-view-there-s-no-doubt-that-the-soviets-had-infinitely-greater/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I suspect the soviets never did want to use those bombs. The most Stalinist of Soviet hard-liners - Stalin, for example - must have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-suspect-the-soviets-never-did-want-to-use-those-bombs-the-most/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Soviets are not just looking at Moscow, they have a very extensive program of not only research, development, they have built this radar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-ikle/the-soviets-are-not-just-looking-at-moscow-they-have-a-very-extensive/) [Fred Ikle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-ikle/) > [This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/this-is-your-time-their-time-is-done-it-s-over-i-m-sick-and-tired-of/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [I think a lot of American poets are swimming-pool Soviets. A lot of them have taken the comfortable, self-protective route too often. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hamill/i-think-a-lot-of-american-poets-are-swimming-pool-soviets-a-lot-of/) [Sam Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hamill/) > [“All Nazi champions insist again and again that Marxism and Bolshevism are the quintessence of the Jewish mind, and that it is the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/all-nazi-champions-insist-again-and-again-that-marxism-and-bolshevism/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Despite what many Americans think, most Soviets do not yearn for capitalism or Western-style democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/despite-what-many-americans-think-most-soviets-do-not-yearn-for/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Soviets always use words which mean almost the reverse of what they mean to us. So peaceful co-existence does not in any way mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nitze/soviets-always-use-words-which-mean-almost-the-reverse-of-what-they/) [Paul Nitze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nitze/) > [They've done away with those committees. That shows the success of what the Soviets were able to do in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/they-ve-done-away-with-those-committees-that-shows-the-success-of/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More by John Glenn > [If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years on this planet, it’s that the happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/if-there-is-one-thing-i-ve-learned-in-my-years-on-this-planet-it-s/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [To get your name well enough known that you can run for a public office, some people do it by being great lawyers or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/to-get-your-name-well-enough-known-that-you-can-run-for-a-public/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [There are times when you devote yourself to a higher cause than personal safety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/there-are-times-when-you-devote-yourself-to-a-higher-cause-than/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [I think that it's good for us to be able to travel in space and do research in space, and I emphasize the research,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/i-think-that-it-s-good-for-us-to-be-able-to-travel-in-space-and-do/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [I was sold on flying as soon as I had a taste for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/i-was-sold-on-flying-as-soon-as-i-had-a-taste-for-it/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [I still love to fly and I'll never get over that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/i-still-love-to-fly-and-i-ll-never-get-over-that/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [America had an emphasis on the individual and so education became available for everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/america-had-an-emphasis-on-the-individual-and-so-education-became/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [I am a stranger. I come in peace. Take me to your leader and there will be a massive reward for you in eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/i-am-a-stranger-i-come-in-peace-take-me-to-your-leader-and-there-will/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [We used to joke about canned men, putting people in a can and seeing how far you can send them and bring them back.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/we-used-to-joke-about-canned-men-putting-people-in-a-can-and-seeing/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [As far as actually setting up colonies of people who would live their whole lives in space, I think we're a long ways from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/as-far-as-actually-setting-up-colonies-of-people-who-would-live-their/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [On K-12 education America has gone down, down, down compared to the other nations. It doesn't mean that we have gotten dumber. It just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/on-k-12-education-america-has-gone-down-down-down-compared-to-the/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [Exploration, of course, is going to new places, but I don't think we go to new places just solely to say: "Well, we've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/exploration-of-course-is-going-to-new-places-but-i-don-t-think-we-go/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [That was a real fireball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/that-was-a-real-fireball/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [Just because I'm 77 doesn't mean I don't have a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/just-because-i-m-77-doesn-t-mean-i-don-t-have-a-dream/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) > [I think no matter where we go in space to me the important thing is not only getting there and getting back, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-glenn/i-think-no-matter-where-we-go-in-space-to-me-the-important-thing-is/) [John Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) [Explore all 56 John Glenn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-glenn/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We thought that the odds of things working OK were up in the upper 90 percent or we wouldn't have gone. But the - there were some problems cropped up on the flight but was able to take care of those OK and - although they were things that we hadn't really trained that much for. 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