--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Am going to cross Pacific on a wooden…" description: "\"Am going to cross Pacific on a wooden raft to support a theory that the South Sea islands were peopled from Peru. Will you come? I guarantee nothing bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/thor-heyerdahl-18316_ability_am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-ra_1169834.jpg" --- # Am going to cross Pacific on a wooden raft to support a… ![“Am going to cross Pacific on a wooden raft to support a theory that the South Sea islands were peopled from Peru. Will you come? I guarantee nothing but a free trip to Peru and the South Sea islands and back, but you will find good use for your technical abilities on the voyage. Reply at once.'…” quote by Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/thor-heyerdahl-18316_ability_am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-ra_1169834.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/thor-heyerdahl-18316_ability_am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-ra_1169834.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/thor-heyerdahl-18316_ability_am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-ra_1169834.jpg) > “Am going to cross Pacific on a wooden raft to support a theory that the South Sea islands were peopled from Peru. Will you come? I guarantee nothing but a free trip to Peru and the South Sea islands and back, but you will find good use for your technical abilities on the voyage. Reply at once.' Next day the following telegram arrived from Torstein: COMING. TORSTEIN.” [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Proposes an experimental voyage to test a diffusion theory, inviting collaboration and offering adventure despite uncertainty. **In simple terms:** Test ideas by daring travel, invite partners. Key Takeaway Combine curiosity with practical skill on bold projects. Themes exploration scientific inquiry collaboration Mood adventurous inquisitive Type motivational historical When to use this quote - research expeditions - team building - venture tourism - academic fieldwork Key Concepts anthropology experimental archaeology risk management Questions to Reflect On - What risks are worth taking for knowledge? - How can you prepare for unknown outcomes? A Different Perspective Funding and safety concerns may limit feasibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Cross Pacific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cross-pacific-3386404/) [Crosses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crosses/) [Following](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/following/) [Guarantees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guarantees/) [Islands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands/) [Islands Peopled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islands-peopled-3386405/) [Next](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next/) [Next day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/next-day/) [Peru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/per-2/) [Peru Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peru-come-3386402/) [Reply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reply/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Support](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/support/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Voyage Reply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyage-reply-3386403/) [Voyages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voyages/) ## Related quotes > [Peru was the Incas; it has 3,000 to 4,000 years of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nobu-matsuhisa/peru-was-the-incas-it-has-3-000-to-4-000-years-of-history/) [Nobu Matsuhisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nobu-matsuhisa/) > [Of all the animals which fly in the air, walk on the land, or swim in the sea, from Paris to Peru, from Japan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/of-all-the-animals-which-fly-in-the-air-walk-on-the-land-or-swim-in/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [Produce your own dream. If you want to save Peru, go save Peru. It’s quite possible to do anything, but not if you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/produce-your-own-dream-if-you-want-to-save-peru-go-save-peru-it-s/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [As a boy, I wanted to be the Peruvian Diego Maradona. Sadly, Peru hasnt made the World Cup since 1982, so I guess I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-alarcon/as-a-boy-i-wanted-to-be-the-peruvian-diego-maradona-sadly-peru-hasnt/) [Daniel Alarcon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-alarcon/) > [I can never see fashion models, lean angular cheeks, strutting hips and blooming hair, without thinking of the skulls at the catacombs in Lima,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-shihab-nye/i-can-never-see-fashion-models-lean-angular-cheeks-strutting-hips-and/) [Naomi Shihab Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-shihab-nye/) > [You could think about Vietnam and at some point in time about Nigeria. And then you head to South America: Argentina, Columbia, Peru. Probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/you-could-think-about-vietnam-and-at-some-point-in-time-about-nigeria/) [Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/) > [Anywhere you want. Thailand, South Carolina, Brezil, Peru-- Oh, wait, no, I'm banned from Peru. I'd forgotten about that. It's a long story, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus/anywhere-you-want-thailand-south-carolina-brezil-peru-oh-wait-no-i-m/) [Magnus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus/) > [Let observation with extensive view, Survey mankind from China to Peru; Remark each anxious toil, each eager strife, And watch the busy scenes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/let-observation-with-extensive-view-survey-mankind-from-china-to-peru/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [After Victor Paz's government, I was still in politics, but I personally spent a lot of time consulting and working with Argentina, with Peru,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/after-victor-paz-s-government-i-was-still-in-politics-but-i/) [Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gonzalo-sanchez-de-lozada/) > [On Friday noon, July the twentieth, 1714, the finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/on-friday-noon-july-the-twentieth-1714-the-finest-bridge-in-all-peru/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [I have discovered the secrets of the pyramids, and have found out how the Egyptians and the ancient builders in Peru, Yucatan and Asia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-leedskalnin/i-have-discovered-the-secrets-of-the-pyramids-and-have-found-out-how/) [Edward Leedskalnin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-leedskalnin/) > [I follow my own nose. So I read things that are different. People will always say to me, "Have you read Robert S. Bosco's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-helprin/i-follow-my-own-nose-so-i-read-things-that-are-different-people-will/) [Mark Helprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-helprin/) > [I've been to Mongolia, Peru, Argentina, India.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stana-katic/i-ve-been-to-mongolia-peru-argentina-india/) [Stana Katic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stana-katic/) > [I couldn't imagine being in Slipknot and not going to Peru or Argentina or Moscow or St. Petersburg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-crahan/i-couldn-t-imagine-being-in-slipknot-and-not-going-to-peru-or/) [Shawn Crahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-crahan/) > [Much had he read, Much more had he seen; he studied from the life, And in th' original perus'd mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/much-had-he-read-much-more-had-he-seen-he-studied-from-the-life-and/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) ## More by Thor Heyerdahl > [One learns more from listening than speaking.And both the wind and the people who continue to live close to nature still have much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/one-learns-more-from-listening-than-speaking-and-both-the-wind-and/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [We are not talking about esthetics. We are talking about life: survival of Man. We must train young people to get another vision of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/we-are-not-talking-about-esthetics-we-are-talking-about-life-survival/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [“Progress can today be defined as man's ability to complicate simplicity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/progress-can-today-be-defined-as-man-s-ability-to-complicate/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [I have never been able to grasp the meaning of time. I don't believe it exists. I've felt this again and again, when alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/i-have-never-been-able-to-grasp-the-meaning-of-time-i-don-t-believe/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [It says in the Bible, in plain words, that God made a self-portrait. He created man in His own image - man and woman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/it-says-in-the-bible-in-plain-words-that-god-made-a-self-portrait-he/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [Therefore, I feel convinced that any political picture can be changed to suit the needs of the powers that be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/therefore-i-feel-convinced-that-any-political-picture-can-be-changed/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [Any scientist can testify that a dead ocean means a dead planet … No national law, no national precautions can save the planet. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/any-scientist-can-testify-that-a-dead-ocean-means-a-dead-planet-no/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [“It was a great moment on board when two large boobies were spotted above the horizon to westward”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/it-was-a-great-moment-on-board-when-two-large-boobies-were-spotted/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [Man invents the most inhuman armaments to assault others so like himself that uniforms are needed to distinguish between friend and foe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/man-invents-the-most-inhuman-armaments-to-assault-others-so-like/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [It is also rarer to find happiness in a man surrounded by the miracles of technology than among people living in the desert of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/it-is-also-rarer-to-find-happiness-in-a-man-surrounded-by-the/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [But if we begin thinking about the world being over 100 million years old, then it's absolutely by chance that you and I are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/but-if-we-begin-thinking-about-the-world-being-over-100-million-years/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [Surrounded by military airplanes and warships from the world's most civilized and developed nations, we have been denied permission by friendly governments, for reasons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/surrounded-by-military-airplanes-and-warships-from-the-world-s-most/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [It is progress when a centuries-old oak is cut down to give space for a road sign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/it-is-progress-when-a-centuries-old-oak-is-cut-down-to-give-space-for/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [In fighting nature, man can win every battle except the last. If he should win that too, he will perish, like an embryo cutting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/in-fighting-nature-man-can-win-every-battle-except-the-last-if-he/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [Borders I have never seen one. But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/borders-i-have-never-seen-one-but-i-have-heard-they-exist-in-the/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) [Explore all 34 Thor Heyerdahl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [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/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Am going to cross Pacific on a wooden raft to support a theory that the South Sea islands were peopled from Peru. Will you come? I guarantee nothing but a free trip to Peru and the South Sea islands and back, but you will find good use for your technical abilities on the voyage. Reply at once.' Next day the following telegram arrived from Torstein: COMING. TORSTEIN.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thor Heyerdahl" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-raft-to-support-a-theory-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-raft-to-support-a-theory-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/thor-heyerdahl-18316_ability_am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-ra_1169834.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/thor-heyerdahl-18316_ability_am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-ra_1169834.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/135/thor-heyerdahl-18316_ability_am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-ra_1169834.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Am going to cross Pacific on a wooden raft to support a theory that the South Sea islands were peopled from…” — Thor Heyerdahl", "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": "Thor Heyerdahl", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Am going to cross Pacific on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-raft-to-support-a-theory-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/am-going-to-cross-pacific-on-a-wooden-raft-to-support-a-theory-that/#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 } } ] } ```