--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole procedure [of shooting rockets…" description: "\"The whole procedure [of shooting rockets into space] . . . presents difficulties of so fundamental a nature, that we are forced to dismiss the notion a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/richard-van-der-riet-woolley-1_accomplished_the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets_271706.jpg" --- # The whole procedure \[of shooting rockets into space\]… ![“The whole procedure [of shooting rockets into space] . . . presents difficulties of so fundamental a nature, that we are forced to dismiss the notion as essentially impracticable, in spite of the author's insistent appeal to put aside prejudice and to recollect the supposed impossibility of…” quote by Richard van der Riet Woolley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/richard-van-der-riet-woolley-1_accomplished_the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets_271706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/richard-van-der-riet-woolley-1_accomplished_the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets_271706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/richard-van-der-riet-woolley-1_accomplished_the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets_271706.jpg) > “The whole procedure \[of shooting rockets into space\] . . . presents difficulties of so fundamental a nature, that we are forced to dismiss the notion as essentially impracticable, in spite of the author's insistent appeal to put aside prejudice and to recollect the supposed impossibility of heavier-than-air flight before it was actually accomplished. An analogy such as this may be misleading, and we believe it to be so in this case.” Richard van der Riet Woolley ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage warns that dismissing ambitious ideas as impossible can hinder progress, using historic flight as an analogy. **In simple terms:** Don’t dismiss big ideas as impossible. Key Takeaway Challenge assumptions that seem impractical. Themes innovation skepticism progress Mood cautious inspired Type Accomplished:0 Air:0 Analogies:1 Appeals:0 Aviation:0 Believe:0 Books:0 Cases:0 Difficulty:0 Flight:0 Fundamentals:0 Future:0 Impossibility:0 May:0 Mislead:0 Notion:0 Predictions:0 Prejudice:0 Procedures:0 Rockets:0 Shooting:0 Space:0 Spite:0 Whole:0 Supposed Impossibility:0 Analogy Misleading:0 Essentially Impracticable:0 Author Insistent:0 When to use this quote - space exploration - technology development - policy making Key Concepts analogy physics history Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions limit your field? - How can we balance caution with ambition? A Different Perspective Overly cautious attitudes may prevent breakthroughs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Analogies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analogies/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Impossibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossibility/) [Predictions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predictions/) [Prejudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prejudice/) [Rockets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rockets/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) ## Related quotes > [The only difference between elements and compounds consists in the supposed impossibility of proving the so-called elements to be compounds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-ostwald/the-only-difference-between-elements-and-compounds-consists-in-the/) [Wolfgang Ostwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-ostwald/) > [Though analogy is often misleading, it is the least misleading thing we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/though-analogy-is-often-misleading-it-is-the-least-misleading-thing/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [While analogies are useful, however, they can also be misleading. They smuggle in assumptions that can be wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mandelbaum/while-analogies-are-useful-however-they-can-also-be-misleading-they/) [Michael Mandelbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mandelbaum/) > [In my photographic work I'm generally attracted to places that contain memories, history, atmospheres and stories. I'm interested in the places where people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-kenna/in-my-photographic-work-i-m-generally-attracted-to-places-that/) [Michael Kenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-kenna/) > [Apt analogies are among the most formidable weapons of the rhetorician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/apt-analogies-are-among-the-most-formidable-weapons-of-the-rhetorician/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Imagination runs out. But it makes sense, right? We probably just imagine things based on what we already know, and we run out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/imagination-runs-out-but-it-makes-sense-right-we-probably-just/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [E-books are impervious to analogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/e-books-are-impervious-to-analogy/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [His lessons were chock-full of analogies for a variety of musical situations. Those little things were my favorites. 'No . . . that's too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-laureano/his-lessons-were-chock-full-of-analogies-for-a-variety-of-musical/) Manny Laureano > [The nude does not simply represent the body, but relates it, by analogy, to all structures that have become part of our imaginative experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/the-nude-does-not-simply-represent-the-body-but-relates-it-by-analogy/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [That is why the analogy of stealing does not work. With a thief, we want to know how much money he or she stole,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukas-foss/that-is-why-the-analogy-of-stealing-does-not-work-with-a-thief-we/) [Lukas Foss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukas-foss/) > [For some people, getting pregnant is as easy as catching cold." And there certainly was an analogy there: Colds and babies were both caused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/for-some-people-getting-pregnant-is-as-easy-as-catching-cold-and/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [Calvin: Today for show and tell, I've brought a tiny miracle of nature: a single snowflake! I think we might all learn a lesson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/calvin-today-for-show-and-tell-i-ve-brought-a-tiny-miracle-of-nature/) [Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/) > [Historical analogy is the last refuge of people who can't grasp the current situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/historical-analogy-is-the-last-refuge-of-people-who-can-t-grasp-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Kanye \[West\] just says the funniest analogies that are so random. I should start keeping a book - in 20 years, I'll have a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-kardashian/kanye-west-just-says-the-funniest-analogies-that-are-so-random-i/) [Kim Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-kardashian/) > [I always use the analogy that when you go to a jeans store and put on a new pair of jeans, it's a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bana/i-always-use-the-analogy-that-when-you-go-to-a-jeans-store-and-put-on/) [Eric Bana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bana/) ## More by Richard van der Riet Woolley > [Space travel is utter bilge. I don't think anybody will ever put up enough money to do such a thing. . . . It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-van-der-riet-woolley/space-travel-is-utter-bilge-i-don-t-think-anybody-will-ever-put-up/) Richard van der Riet Woolley Explore all 2 Richard van der Riet Woolley quotes ## More Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I'm proud of what I've accomplished and that is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-m-proud-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-that-is-empowering/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) Amy Ridenour > [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/) [Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/) Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The whole procedure [of shooting rockets into space] . . . presents difficulties of so fundamental a nature, that we are forced to dismiss the notion as essentially impracticable, in spite of the author's insistent appeal to put aside prejudice and to recollect the supposed impossibility of heavier-than-air flight before it was actually accomplished. An analogy such as this may be misleading, and we believe it to be so in this case.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard van der Riet Woolley" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-van-der-riet-woolley/the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets-into-space-presents/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplished" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-van-der-riet-woolley/the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets-into-space-presents/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/richard-van-der-riet-woolley-1_accomplished_the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets_271706.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/richard-van-der-riet-woolley-1_accomplished_the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets_271706.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fcd/richard-van-der-riet-woolley-1_accomplished_the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets_271706.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The whole procedure [of shooting rockets into space] . . . presents difficulties of so fundamental a nature…” — Richard van der Riet Woolley", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard van der Riet Woolley", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-van-der-riet-woolley/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The whole procedure [of shooting rockets...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-van-der-riet-woolley/the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets-into-space-presents/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-van-der-riet-woolley/the-whole-procedure-of-shooting-rockets-into-space-presents/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```