--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was an aspiring astrophysicist, and…" description: "\"I was an aspiring astrophysicist, and that's how I defined myself, not by my skin color. People didn't treat me as someone with science ambitions. They..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_ambition_i-was-an-aspiring-astrophysicist-and-tha_2395378.jpg" --- # I was an aspiring astrophysicist, and that's how I defined… ![“I was an aspiring astrophysicist, and that's how I defined myself, not by my skin color. People didn't treat me as someone with science ambitions. They treated me as someone they thought was going to mug them, or who was a shoplifter.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_ambition_i-was-an-aspiring-astrophysicist-and-tha_2395378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_ambition_i-was-an-aspiring-astrophysicist-and-tha_2395378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a9/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_ambition_i-was-an-aspiring-astrophysicist-and-tha_2395378.jpg) > “I was an aspiring astrophysicist, and that's how I defined myself, not by my skin color. People didn't treat me as someone with science ambitions. They treated me as someone they thought was going to mug them, or who was a shoplifter.” [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑definition through profession rather than race, confronting racial bias in scientific fields. **In simple terms:** Define yourself by career, not skin color. Key Takeaway Pursue passion despite bias. Themes science race identity bias Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - college - job interviews Key Concepts stereotyping representation resilience Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you stay focused on goals? - How can institutions reduce bias? A Different Perspective Bias can affect opportunities and confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Skin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin/) [Skin color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skin-color/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [No astrophysicist would deny the possibility of life. I think we're not creative enough to imagine what life would be like on another planet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/no-astrophysicist-would-deny-the-possibility-of-life-i-think-we-re/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“Swiss-American astrophysicist Fritz Zwicky.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/swiss-american-astrophysicist-fritz-zwicky/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Any astrophysicist does not feel small looking up at the universe; we feel large.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/any-astrophysicist-does-not-feel-small-looking-up-at-the-universe-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [When I needed to overcome the low expectations of others or the bias that would be expressed in one circumstance or another, I'd keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/when-i-needed-to-overcome-the-low-expectations-of-others-or-the-bias/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [When I grew up I assembled my role models à la cart. I wanted to be an astrophysicist. If I tried to find a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/when-i-grew-up-i-assembled-my-role-models-la-cart-i-wanted-to-be-an/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The humblest person in this world is the astrophysicist. Because we are face to face with our ignorance every single day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-humblest-person-in-this-world-is-the-astrophysicist-because-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [For your own safety, do not ever tell an astrophysicist, I hope all your stars are twinkling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/for-your-own-safety-do-not-ever-tell-an-astrophysicist-i-hope-all/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I've known from long ago that the universe was calling me. If you were one of those annoying adults that said, 'Oh, what are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-ve-known-from-long-ago-that-the-universe-was-calling-me-if-you-were/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“It's easy to become married. Millions of people do it every year. If you want to pressure me to become something, hey, why not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-salmansohn/it-s-easy-to-become-married-millions-of-people-do-it-every-year-if/) [Karen Salmansohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-salmansohn/) > [As an astrophysicist, my research work involves mapping dark matter, the elusive substance that accounts for about a quarter of our universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyamvada-natarajan/as-an-astrophysicist-my-research-work-involves-mapping-dark-matter/) [Priyamvada Natarajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyamvada-natarajan/) > [At one point I wanted to work for NASA and be an astrophysicist, so I did physics, math, and chemistry before realizing I probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-chan/at-one-point-i-wanted-to-work-for-nasa-and-be-an-astrophysicist-so-i/) [Gemma Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-chan/) > [I'm an astrophysicist and a professor, so my day job involves manipulating intractable numbers that characterize our universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyamvada-natarajan/i-m-an-astrophysicist-and-a-professor-so-my-day-job-involves/) [Priyamvada Natarajan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyamvada-natarajan/) > [I was good at math, math was my thing - but I was not nearly good enough to be an astrophysicist. I was way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-trammell/i-was-good-at-math-math-was-my-thing-but-i-was-not-nearly-good-enough/) [Sam Trammell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-trammell/) > [I don't pretend to be an astrophysicist or anything, even though I do read about certain things like metaphysics and cosmology that I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sturgill-simpson/i-don-t-pretend-to-be-an-astrophysicist-or-anything-even-though-i-do/) [Sturgill Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sturgill-simpson/) > [I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but feel incredibly lucky to be in the position I am now and to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/i-made-a-lot-of-mistakes-along-the-way-but-feel-incredibly-lucky-to/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) ## More by Neil deGrasse Tyson > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Quantum physics fluctuates all the time. But now the fluctuations are not just particles coming into and out of existence, which happens all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/quantum-physics-fluctuates-all-the-time-but-now-the-fluctuations-are/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The Pacific is the best toilet for satellites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-pacific-is-the-best-toilet-for-satellites/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [... informed ignorance provides the natural state of mind for research scientists at the ever-shifting frontiers of knowledge. People who believe themselves ignorant of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/informed-ignorance-provides-the-natural-state-of-mind-for-research/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [If you seek only easy problems to solve, then ultimately, there'll be nothing about you to distinguish yourself from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/if-you-seek-only-easy-problems-to-solve-then-ultimately-there-ll-be/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The caricature of science is that we hold tight to the theories we have, and shun challenges to them. That's just not true. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-caricature-of-science-is-that-we-hold-tight-to-the-theories-we/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [New generations of humans inherit the acquired discoveries of generations past, allowing cosmic insight to accumulate without limit. Each discovery of science therefore adds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/new-generations-of-humans-inherit-the-acquired-discoveries-of/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [I've said multiple times that the world's first trillionaire is going to be the person who exploits the resources of asteroids, the natural resources…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-ve-said-multiple-times-that-the-world-s-first-trillionaire-is-going/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ They \[scientists of centuries past\] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-on-god-only-from-the-lonely/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/you-can-t-have-people-making-decisions-about-the-future-of-the-world/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Science surrounds you. It's not something that you can step aside, step over or push out of your way because you were never good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/science-surrounds-you-it-s-not-something-that-you-can-step-aside-step/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The idea that God resides in the unknown is what philosophers call the God of the gaps. And we have this thing called science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-idea-that-god-resides-in-the-unknown-is-what-philosophers-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Everybody's got money for vacation time. Look at how much we all spend just to get - well, I get sick on the loop-the-loop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/everybody-s-got-money-for-vacation-time-look-at-how-much-we-all-spend/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) [Explore all 1,143 Neil deGrasse Tyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [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/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was an aspiring astrophysicist, and that's how I defined myself, not by my skin color. 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