--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was…" description: "\"When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was speechless—overwhelmed, like most of the world. Couldn't say a word. I think all I said was, 'Wow! Jeez!' Not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/walter-cronkite-1759_apollo_when-the-eagle-landed-on-the-moon-i-was_997814.png" --- # When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was… ![“When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was speechless—overwhelmed, like most of the world. Couldn't say a word. I think all I said was, 'Wow! Jeez!' Not exactly immortal. Well, I was nothing if not human.” quote by Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/walter-cronkite-1759_apollo_when-the-eagle-landed-on-the-moon-i-was_997814.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/walter-cronkite-1759_apollo_when-the-eagle-landed-on-the-moon-i-was_997814.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/921/walter-cronkite-1759_apollo_when-the-eagle-landed-on-the-moon-i-was_997814.png) > “When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was speechless—overwhelmed, like most of the world. Couldn't say a word. I think all I said was, 'Wow! Jeez!' Not exactly immortal. Well, I was nothing if not human.” [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses awe and humility at witnessing the historic moon landing, feeling speechless and overwhelmed like many others. **In simple terms:** Awe at the moon landing. Key Takeaway Embrace wonder at historic moments. Themes history humility humanity Mood inspired reflective Type historical emotional When to use this quote - watching live news - educational talks - inspirational events Key Concepts Space exploration collective experience Questions to Reflect On - How does witnessing history change your perspective? - What emotions arise when you feel part of a global moment? A Different Perspective Personal awe can fade; later reflection may feel less profound. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) [Eagle Landed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagle-landed-1526133/) [Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eagles/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Immortal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortal/) [Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon/) [Moon Speechless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moon-speechless-2086333/) [Overwhelmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelmed/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-wow-861575/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Speechless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speechless/) [Speechless Overwhelmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speechless-overwhelmed-2086335/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wow/) ## Related quotes > [I didn’t know what I was supposed to say about that, so I just said, "Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/i-didn-t-know-what-i-was-supposed-to-say-about-that-so-i-just-said-wow/) [Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/) > [The first time I walked onto the Megatron set, I said 'Wow!' I did. I had my son with me that day, and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-anderson/the-first-time-i-walked-onto-the-megatron-set-i-said-wow-i-did-i-had/) [Anthony Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-anderson/) > [“Everybody knows, a humungous thing happened on Sunday, July 20th, 1969 at exactly 4:17E.D.T. The 'Eagle' has landed. Bingo. Just like that. Man became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-turpin-myers/everybody-knows-a-humungous-thing-happened-on-sunday-july-20th-1969/) [Janet Turpin Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-turpin-myers/) > [The Eagle has landed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/the-eagle-has-landed/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhaboo/houston-tranquility-base-here-the-eagle-has-landed/) [Bhaboo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhaboo/) > [Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-armstrong/houston-tranquillity-base-here-the-eagle-has-landed/) [Neil Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-armstrong/) > [“As everybody knows, a humungous thing happened on Sunday, July 20th, 1969, at exactly 4:17:41 E.D.T. The 'Eagle' has landed. Bingo. Just like that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-turpin-myers/as-everybody-knows-a-humungous-thing-happened-on-sunday-july-20th/) [Janet Turpin Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-turpin-myers/) > [Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron,” Sebastian said approvingly. “Excellent choice.” “You have read this?” Alexei asked. “It’s not as good as Miss Davenport…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/miss-butterworth-and-the-mad-baron-sebastian-said-approvingly/) [Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/) > [I've been searching for the right words to say, to explain how I feel, but the truth is you leave me completely speechless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernajoy-vaal/i-ve-been-searching-for-the-right-words-to-say-to-explain-how-i-feel/) [Bernajoy Vaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernajoy-vaal/) > [How was your night?" I asked, my voice carefully neutral as I attempted to break the ice. My spying adventures still hung uncomfortably between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/how-was-your-night-i-asked-my-voice-carefully-neutral-as-i-attempted/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Grief that is dazed and speechless is out of fashion: the modern woman mourns her husband loudly and tells you the whole story of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/grief-that-is-dazed-and-speechless-is-out-of-fashion-the-modern-woman/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [You might not be the most attractive but you have the most attractive words. And bae you left me speechless the first day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-might-not-be-the-most-attractive-but-you-have-the-most-attractive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You're speechless, I like that. And I also like you all feisty. Want to hit me again?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/you-re-speechless-i-like-that-and-i-also-like-you-all-feisty-want-to/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“There were no words to describe her, nor were there ones I could coherently form in the moment; she was a work of art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raine-miller/there-were-no-words-to-describe-her-nor-were-there-ones-i-could/) [Raine Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raine-miller/) > [“He became almost speechless for a minute, and then went on, "Do you know what the place is? Have you seen that awful den…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bram-stoker/he-became-almost-speechless-for-a-minute-and-then-went-on-do-you-know/) [Bram Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bram-stoker/) ## More by Walter Cronkite > [I'm a liberal, but I'm not biased. Seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-a-liberal-but-i-m-not-biased-seriously/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I've gone from the most trusted man in America to one of the most debated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-ve-gone-from-the-most-trusted-man-in-america-to-one-of-the-most/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I do think that the success, although still not complete... in the recognition of equal rights... to all Americans, regardless of color, creed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-do-think-that-the-success-although-still-not-complete-in-the/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [Be kind to an old man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/be-kind-to-an-old-man/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I learned early on that in the real world, the masks of tragedy and comedy adorn the proscenium of every life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-learned-early-on-that-in-the-real-world-the-masks-of-tragedy-and/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [It is clear that military force and our policy of preemption are alone insufficient to make us safe. But help is on the way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/it-is-clear-that-military-force-and-our-policy-of-preemption-are/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [In all my years as a news commentator I was never once, able to tell the truth, about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/in-all-my-years-as-a-news-commentator-i-was-never-once-able-to-tell/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I think people make way too much of ratings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-think-people-make-way-too-much-of-ratings/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I grew my mustache when I was nineteen in order to look older. I never shaved it off even though it overran its usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-grew-my-mustache-when-i-was-nineteen-in-order-to-look-older-i-never/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [I'm so tired of stories starting, 'Maud Jones was walking her dog down Broadway.' You've got to go over to the back page somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-m-so-tired-of-stories-starting-maud-jones-was-walking-her-dog-down/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [All through my life, I have never disguised my sentiments about politics in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/all-through-my-life-i-have-never-disguised-my-sentiments-about/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The battle for the airwaves cannot be limited to only those who have the bank accounts to pay for the battle and win it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-battle-for-the-airwaves-cannot-be-limited-to-only-those-who-have/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [The successful landing on the moon, very probably, is the best story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/the-successful-landing-on-the-moon-very-probably-is-the-best-story/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [If, as they say, the threat of the hangman's noose has a powerful way of focusing one's attention, the same can be said of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/if-as-they-say-the-threat-of-the-hangman-s-noose-has-a-powerful-way/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [We must strengthen the United Nations as a first step toward a World Government, patterned after our Own Government with a legislature, executive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/we-must-strengthen-the-united-nations-as-a-first-step-toward-a-world/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) [Explore all 210 Walter Cronkite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## More Apollo quotes > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Kennedy had made a mess in Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. He had to do something to look good. The Apollo program of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/kennedy-had-made-a-mess-in-cuba-at-the-bay-of-pigs-he-had-to-do/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [Apollo?” I guessed… He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.” A god named Fred?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/apollo-i-guessed-he-put-a-finger-to-his-lips-i-m-incognito-call-me/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [I think if you were between maybe 6 and 16, there was nothing like Apollo, and I wonder if there can be something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/i-think-if-you-were-between-maybe-6-and-16-there-was-nothing-like/) [Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/) > [Apollo was a big, unwieldy vehicle. I had a problem with the flight controllers over that. It would try to fare its way like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/apollo-was-a-big-unwieldy-vehicle-i-had-a-problem-with-the-flight/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [I used to be a street performer, and performances on Venice Beach, it's like playing the Apollo: They let you know if they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/i-used-to-be-a-street-performer-and-performances-on-venice-beach-it-s/) [Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/) > [I owe much of my success to Seann Walsh. He kept recommending me for Live At The Apollo until eventually the producers offered me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-owe-much-of-my-success-to-seann-walsh-he-kept-recommending-me-for/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) > [A typical smart phone has more computing power than Apollo 11 when it landed a man on the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/a-typical-smart-phone-has-more-computing-power-than-apollo-11-when-it/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Armstrong, sitting in the commander's seat, spacesuit on, helmet on, plugged into electrical and environmental umbilical's, is a man who is not only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/armstrong-sitting-in-the-commander-s-seat-spacesuit-on-helmet-on/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Have any of you taken a look out at Greece in the last, say, hour or so? (Hermes) What? Are they reacting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/have-any-of-you-taken-a-look-out-at-greece-in-the-last-say-hour-or-so/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I couldn’t say I was surprised that Apollo hadn’t given me a lot to work on. The jerk was known for delivering little to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-couldn-t-say-i-was-surprised-that-apollo-hadn-t-given-me-a-lot-to/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“As additional precautions, Kranz requested that a two-hundred-foot radio antenna (called a deep-space dish) in Australia be added to the global network tracking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-s-f-cooper-jr/as-additional-precautions-kranz-requested-that-a-two-hundred-foot/) [Henry S.F. Cooper Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-s-f-cooper-jr/) > [“He saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-saw-her-eyes-bright-as-stars-he-saw-her-lips-and-was-not-satisfied/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Among the gods, there is a dispute as to which one of them originally thought of Christianity; or, as they call it, the Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holt/among-the-gods-there-is-a-dispute-as-to-which-one-of-them-originally/) [Tom Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holt/) [Browse all 382 Apollo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When the Eagle landed on the moon, I was speechless—overwhelmed, like most of the world. Couldn't say a word. I think all I said was, 'Wow! Jeez!' Not exactly immortal. 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