--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I made the mistake of working at the…" description: "\"“I made the mistake of working at the world's largest telescopes and now show classic health degradation that is associated with that biologically toxi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/steven-magee-129_associated_i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-wor_1409504.jpg" --- # I made the mistake of working at the world's largest… ![“I made the mistake of working at the world's largest telescopes and now show classic health degradation that is associated with that biologically toxic environment.” quote by Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/steven-magee-129_associated_i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-wor_1409504.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/steven-magee-129_associated_i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-wor_1409504.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/steven-magee-129_associated_i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-wor_1409504.jpg) > ““I made the mistake of working at the world's largest telescopes and now show classic health degradation that is associated with that biologically toxic environment.”” [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Working at massive telescopes exposed him to harmful environmental factors, leading to health decline. **In simple terms:** Large telescope work harmed his health. Key Takeaway Consider workplace health risks. Themes career health environment risk science Mood concerned reflective Type personal cautionary When to use this quote - research labs - observatory work - field studies - long‑term exposure Key Concepts occupational health environmental toxicity stress Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions protect staff from environmental hazards? - What safeguards are essential in high‑risk scientific settings? A Different Perspective Health impacts may be mitigated with proper safety measures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Degradation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degradation/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Telescopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telescopes/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“When I managed the world’s largest telescopes atop Mauna Kea, I never knew that I would end up campaigning for their closure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-i-managed-the-world-s-largest-telescopes-atop-mauna-kea-i-never/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I do regard modern universities to be biologically toxic environments for healthy students.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-do-regard-modern-universities-to-be-biologically-toxic-environments/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Distance is your friend in the world of biologically toxic transmitters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/distance-is-your-friend-in-the-world-of-biologically-toxic/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“It is unclear if corporate governments are truly the dunces of human health or if they are just faking it in order to propagate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unclear-if-corporate-governments-are-truly-the-dunces-of-human/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Arguably insane utility workers that blatantly harass law abiding customers is likely to become more frequent as the long term effects of biologically toxic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/arguably-insane-utility-workers-that-blatantly-harass-law-abiding/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The energy industry is filled with toxic people that are following a corporate government subsidized known biologically toxic agenda.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-energy-industry-is-filled-with-toxic-people-that-are-following-a/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The biggest mistake that I made in life was working for biologically toxic employers. The second biggest mistake was expecting that the modern healthcare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-biggest-mistake-that-i-made-in-life-was-working-for-biologically/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I was the manager of the world's largest telescopes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-was-the-manager-of-the-world-s-largest-telescopes/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I had my health damaged by the world’s largest telescopes and that resulted in me becoming a victim of one of the worst social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-had-my-health-damaged-by-the-world-s-largest-telescopes-and-that/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“China has the world’s largest navy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/china-has-the-world-s-largest-navy/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“In 2001, the internet and email was facilitating my international job search that ultimately landed me in Hawaii, managing the world’s largest telescopes atop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/in-2001-the-internet-and-email-was-facilitating-my-international-job/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Trying to build the world’s largest telescope atop the most sacred mountain in Hawaii is a cultural violation to the Hawaiian’s.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/trying-to-build-the-world-s-largest-telescope-atop-the-most-sacred/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I am committed to shutting down the toxic Mauna Kea Observatories and this is a serious problem for professional astronomers, given that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-am-committed-to-shutting-down-the-toxic-mauna-kea-observatories-and/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“China has the world’s largest navy, much larger than the USA.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/china-has-the-world-s-largest-navy-much-larger-than-the-usa/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I do regard the Faraday cage as biologically toxic to humans and metal buildings should be avoided by those that like their good health!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-do-regard-the-faraday-cage-as-biologically-toxic-to-humans-and/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More by Steven Magee > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The police ultimately pay the price for poor customer service when citizens become fearful of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-police-ultimately-pay-the-price-for-poor-customer-service-when/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“It is unnatural to fear something natural.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/it-is-unnatural-to-fear-something-natural/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The world is witnessing one of the greatest frauds the Florida government has ever engaged in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-world-is-witnessing-one-of-the-greatest-frauds-the-florida/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is largely an interrogation agency for whistle-blowers that extracts their full range of knowledge without upholding their legal rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/occupational-safety-health-administration-osha-is-largely-an/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The medical profession is a money making con, they will keep you sick on a variety of expensive prescriptions and on a yo-yo into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-medical-profession-is-a-money-making-con-they-will-keep-you-sick/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“There is a time and place for electromagnetic shielding and I regard it as a last resort due to the long term biological problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-is-a-time-and-place-for-electromagnetic-shielding-and-i-regard/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“To riot or not to riot, that is the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/to-riot-or-not-to-riot-that-is-the-question/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Publicly telling the truth on social media can be one of the most effective healing journeys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/publicly-telling-the-truth-on-social-media-can-be-one-of-the-most/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The W. M. Keck Observatory is the only employer that has surprised me during my employment with urine tests for illegal drugs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-w-m-keck-observatory-is-the-only-employer-that-has-surprised-me/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I will do everything I legally can to shut down the toxic Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project atop Mauna Kea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-will-do-everything-i-legally-can-to-shut-down-the-toxic-thirty/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The difference between President Trump and Steven Magee? Steven Magee publicly acknowledges his mental illnesses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-difference-between-president-trump-and-steven-magee-steven-magee/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“There were a lot of stressed out people in the company as we were discovering how dangerous the DeSoto Solar Farm was!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/there-were-a-lot-of-stressed-out-people-in-the-company-as-we-were/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Interacting with a corrupt government judge is futile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/interacting-with-a-corrupt-government-judge-is-futile/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) [Explore all 1,204 Steven Magee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) ## More Altitude quotes > [Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you'll love it up here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/change-your-attitude-and-gain-some-altitude-believe-me-you-ll-love-it/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“I will do everything I legally can to shut down the toxic Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project atop Mauna Kea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-will-do-everything-i-legally-can-to-shut-down-the-toxic-thirty/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“I knew I was disabled when everyday home activities became overwhelming!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-knew-i-was-disabled-when-everyday-home-activities-became/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“Over 275,000 people had signed to end the construction of the TMT telescope at the Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) by week 20 of the protest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/over-275-000-people-had-signed-to-end-the-construction-of-the-tmt/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“The toxicity of medical and industrial gas to the human depends on where it is used. A gas that is regarded as safe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-toxicity-of-medical-and-industrial-gas-to-the-human-depends-on/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [It is not your aptitude, but your attitude, that determines your altitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/it-is-not-your-aptitude-but-your-attitude-that-determines-your/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“Summit Lag occurs when a summit worker is kept in a permanent state of mal-acclimatization.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/summit-lag-occurs-when-a-summit-worker-is-kept-in-a-permanent-state/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [“My interest in astronomy took me to the premier astronomical observatories in the world before I developed occupational diseases and became disabled at age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/my-interest-in-astronomy-took-me-to-the-premier-astronomical/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall - it's great when you stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-darwin/climbing-at-altitude-is-like-hitting-your-head-against-a-brick-wall/) Chris Darwin > [Attitude and not the Aptitude decide the Altitude you reach in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/attitude-and-not-the-aptitude-decide-the-altitude-you-reach-in-life/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [“Plastic bottles of Gatorade were given free to very high altitude workers on Mauna Kea and they were advised to drink it while on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/plastic-bottles-of-gatorade-were-given-free-to-very-high-altitude/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [With the altitude in the Rocky Mountains, the ball jumps off your foot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-tucker/with-the-altitude-in-the-rocky-mountains-the-ball-jumps-off-your-foot/) [Justin Tucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-tucker/) > [I believe it is our attitude that determines our altitude. It is our attitude that allows us to soar above those things that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-d-jakes/i-believe-it-is-our-attitude-that-determines-our-altitude-it-is-our/) [T. D. Jakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-d-jakes/) > [“It's your ATTITUDE not your APTITUDE that ultimately determines your ALTITUDE!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-your-attitude-not-your-aptitude-that-ultimately-determines-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Poor diet combined with high altitude exposures may bring increased risks of illnesses and cancers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/poor-diet-combined-with-high-altitude-exposures-may-bring-increased/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) Browse all 214 Altitude quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I made the mistake of working at the world's largest telescopes and now show classic health degradation that is associated with that biologically toxic environment.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Steven Magee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-world-s-largest-telescopes-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Altitude" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-world-s-largest-telescopes-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/steven-magee-129_associated_i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-wor_1409504.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/steven-magee-129_associated_i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-wor_1409504.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/steven-magee-129_associated_i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-wor_1409504.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I made the mistake of working at the world's largest telescopes and now show classic health degradation that…” — Steven Magee", "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": "Steven Magee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I made the mistake of working...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-world-s-largest-telescopes-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/i-made-the-mistake-of-working-at-the-world-s-largest-telescopes-and/#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 } } ] } ```