--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything was so new - the whole idea of…" description: "\"Everything was so new - the whole idea of going into space was new and daring. There were no textbooks, so we had to write them.\" — Katherine Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/katherine-johnson-23885_daring_everything-was-so-new-the-whole-idea-of_1946772.jpg" --- # Everything was so new - the whole idea of going into space… ![“Everything was so new - the whole idea of going into space was new and daring. There were no textbooks, so we had to write them.” quote by Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/katherine-johnson-23885_daring_everything-was-so-new-the-whole-idea-of_1946772.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/katherine-johnson-23885_daring_everything-was-so-new-the-whole-idea-of_1946772.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e15/katherine-johnson-23885_daring_everything-was-so-new-the-whole-idea-of_1946772.jpg) > “Everything was so new - the whole idea of going into space was new and daring. There were no textbooks, so we had to write them.” [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early space exploration required pioneering minds to create new knowledge from scratch, as no prior texts existed. **In simple terms:** Scientists wrote their own textbooks for space. Key Takeaway Embrace curiosity and innovate when resources lack. Themes science space exploration innovation learning Mood inspirational determined Type historical motivational When to use this quote - research labs - STEM education - space missions Key Concepts problem solving history education Questions to Reflect On - What resources can you create when none exist? - How do you handle uncertainty in pioneering work? A Different Perspective Lack of existing knowledge can slow progress and increase risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Daring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daring/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [New idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-idea/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing pleases people more than to go on thinking what they have always thought, and at the same time imagine that they are thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot/nothing-pleases-people-more-than-to-go-on-thinking-what-they-have/) [T. S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot/) > [The mental and physical space we create by letting go of things that belong in our past gives us the option to fill the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/the-mental-and-physical-space-we-create-by-letting-go-of-things-that/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“Super-luxury hotels are being built in outer space. The new type of heaven is being offered to humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/super-luxury-hotels-are-being-built-in-outer-space-the-new-type-of/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [More important than the material issue . . . the opening of a new, high frontier will challenge the best that is in us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-k-o-neill/more-important-than-the-material-issue-the-opening-of-a-new-high/) [Gerard K. O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-k-o-neill/) > [The most uncomfortable thing about going to space is coming home. It's a little strange to get used to gravity again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-mcclain/the-most-uncomfortable-thing-about-going-to-space-is-coming-home-it-s/) [Anne McClain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-mcclain/) > [We are going into space, and we need protection. And in case we need to space walk, we'll have to go outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-gass/we-are-going-into-space-and-we-need-protection-and-in-case-we-need-to/) [Kyle Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-gass/) > [When NASA says they're going into space, they don't mean up and back. They mean orbit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/when-nasa-says-they-re-going-into-space-they-don-t-mean-up-and-back/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I think you're going to see an interest in space tourism, space travel for the sake of travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-muilenburg/i-think-you-re-going-to-see-an-interest-in-space-tourism-space-travel/) [Dennis Muilenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-muilenburg/) > [In the late 19th century, Russian Cosmists such as Nikolai Fyodorov believed we need to go to space to collect all the particles of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/in-the-late-19th-century-russian-cosmists-such-as-nikolai-fyodorov/) [Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/) > [Many, and some of the most pressing, of our terrestrial problems can be solved only by going into space. Long before it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/many-and-some-of-the-most-pressing-of-our-terrestrial-problems-can-be/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Micro satellites, about the size of a loaf of bread, are going to be going into space more and more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cantrell/micro-satellites-about-the-size-of-a-loaf-of-bread-are-going-to-be/) [Jim Cantrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cantrell/) > [I always dreamed of going out to space. The idea of going to a planet where nobody's ever been is attractive to me, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/panda-bear/i-always-dreamed-of-going-out-to-space-the-idea-of-going-to-a-planet/) [Panda Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/panda-bear/) > [They didn’t tell me I was going into space until after they locked the shuttle doors and started counting down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buzz-aldrin/they-didn-t-tell-me-i-was-going-into-space-until-after-they-locked/) [Buzz Aldrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buzz-aldrin/) > [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/) > [I think it's the entire privilege I had to represent my country. It's not the going to space alone; it's to be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/i-think-it-s-the-entire-privilege-i-had-to-represent-my-country-it-s/) [Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/) ## More by Katherine Johnson > [Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/girls-are-capable-of-doing-everything-men-are-capable-of-doing/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [Take all the courses in your curriculum. Do the research. Ask questions. Find someone doing what you are interested in! Be curious!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/take-all-the-courses-in-your-curriculum-do-the-research-ask-questions/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [In math, you're either right or you're wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/in-math-you-re-either-right-or-you-re-wrong/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I found what I was looking for at Langley. This was what a research mathematician did. I went to work every day for 33…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-found-what-i-was-looking-for-at-langley-this-was-what-a-research/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [Men don't pay attention to small things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/men-don-t-pay-attention-to-small-things/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [Like what you do, and then you will do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/like-what-you-do-and-then-you-will-do-your-best/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I was just excited to have challenging work to do and smart people to work with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-work-to-do-and-smart-people-to/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I like to learn. That's an art and a science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-like-to-learn-that-s-an-art-and-a-science/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and will go away, but there will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/we-will-always-have-stem-with-us-some-things-will-drop-out-of-the/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I counted everything. I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed... anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-counted-everything-i-counted-the-steps-to-the-road-the-steps-up-to/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I was excited at something new, always liked something new, but give credit to everybody who helped. I didn't do anything alone but try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-was-excited-at-something-new-always-liked-something-new-but-give/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [Many professors tell you that you'd be good at this or that, but they don't always help you with that career path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/many-professors-tell-you-that-you-d-be-good-at-this-or-that-but-they/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I felt most proud on the success of the Apollo mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-felt-most-proud-on-the-success-of-the-apollo-mission/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I liked working with smart people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-liked-working-with-smart-people/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [We needed to be assertive as women in those days - assertive and aggressive - and the degree to which we had to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/we-needed-to-be-assertive-as-women-in-those-days-assertive-and/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) [Explore all 25 Katherine Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) ## More Daring quotes > [ There was another reason \[she\] took her books whenever they went away. They were her home when she was somewhere strange. They were familiar… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/there-was-another-reason-she-took-her-books-whenever-they-went-away/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Don't let other people tell you who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-sawyer/don-t-let-other-people-tell-you-who-you-are/) [Diane Sawyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-sawyer/) > [As an actor, I still have to remind myself of daring to let go and not to repeat myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-vikander/as-an-actor-i-still-have-to-remind-myself-of-daring-to-let-go-and-not/) [Alicia Vikander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-vikander/) > [I think that only daring speculation can lead us further and not accumulation of facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-think-that-only-daring-speculation-can-lead-us-further-and-not/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [But I think the other is a little more like bullfighting, a little more daring and although I appreciate good acting and I liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-klein/but-i-think-the-other-is-a-little-more-like-bullfighting-a-little/) [Robert Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-klein/) > [Deeply disturbing in a way that only the most honest stories are, YACCUB is a fiercely written, daring journey through America's urban wilderness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-massey/deeply-disturbing-in-a-way-that-only-the-most-honest-stories-are/) Brandon Massey > [The late proceedings of those daring invaders to establish a national religion have opened the eyes of all lovers of liberty and religion... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-royall/the-late-proceedings-of-those-daring-invaders-to-establish-a-national/) [Anne Royall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-royall/) > [As a fighter pilot I know from my own experiences how decisive surprise and luck can be for success, which in the long run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-galland/as-a-fighter-pilot-i-know-from-my-own-experiences-how-decisive/) [Adolf Galland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-galland/) > [I found so-called great art too pompous, too stiff. What at this time was called minor art was freer, more imaginative, more open to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lipchitz/i-found-so-called-great-art-too-pompous-too-stiff-what-at-this-time/) [Jacques Lipchitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lipchitz/) > [Fear is a problem with film music and films; people want to be conventional, and there's more commercialism today. If you are not daring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-north/fear-is-a-problem-with-film-music-and-films-people-want-to-be/) [Alex North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-north/) > [A sublime hope cheers ever the faithful heart, that elsewhere, in other regions of the universal powers, souls are now acting, enduring and daring,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-sublime-hope-cheers-ever-the-faithful-heart-that-elsewhere-in-other/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [As Mayor, I will fully support my Arts Commission and its professional selection committees so that they can commission a full range of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/as-mayor-i-will-fully-support-my-arts-commission-and-its-professional/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [It would not be going too far to assert that ... conflict confronts every woman who ventures upon a career of her own and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-horney/it-would-not-be-going-too-far-to-assert-that-conflict-confronts-every/) [Karen Horney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-horney/) > [“But first whom shall we send In search of this new world, whom shall we find Sufficient? Who shall tempt, with wand'ring feet The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/but-first-whom-shall-we-send-in-search-of-this-new-world-whom-shall/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) [Browse all 798 Daring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everything was so new - the whole idea of going into space was new and daring. 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