I was hooked on aviation, made model airplanes, and never thought I would be able to fly myself. It cost too much. But then World War II came along and changed all that.

As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind - every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.

The most important thing we can do is inspire young minds and to advance the kind of science, math and technology education that will help youngsters take us to the next phase of space travel.

To sit back and let fate play its hand out and never influence it is not the way man was meant to operate.

We have an infinite amount to learn both from nature and from each other.

I don't know what you could say about a day in which you have seen four beautiful sunsets.

There are times when you devote yourself to a higher cause than personal safety.

I suppose the one quality in an astronaut more powerful than any other is curiosity. They have to get some place nobody's ever been.

Too many people, when they get old, think that they have to live by the calendar.

Zero G and I feel fine.

I am a stranger. I come in peace. Take me to your leader and there will be a massive reward for you in eternity.

Believe that your life is not ordinary and never look down on what you can do to impact a life.

If you cannot see the rainbow because your face is down, don't argue that no rainbow is up there. Lift up your passion and take your dreams off the ground!

One of life's great truths is this: when one is about to be struck by a speeding six-hundred pound Coke machine, one need worry about little else.

I do what I can do when I can do it.

Someday you're going to have to learn to separate what seems to be important from what really is important.

I understand that if you set out to be a celebrity, then you asked for it, but all I wanted to be was an actor.

There is safety in reserve, but no attraction. One cannot love a reserved person.

It's like the little rat in the Skinner box who says, "I've got this psychologist under my control. Every time I press the bar, he gives me a food pellet."

I don't think we can ignore the Modern Movement. But I wouldn't have minded at all if it hadn't happened. I think the world would be a much nicer place.

I like involved projects. I'm driven by the idea of characters and the song-cycle form is similar to a musical.