Katherine Johnson, a pioneering mathematician whose work was vital to the success of the U.S. space program, left behind a legacy filles with wisdom and insight.
Her quotes summarizes a life of breakthroughs and obstacles, showcasing her incredible intelligence and unbeatable spirit. Johnson’s words provide not just a peek into the challenges she overcame; they serve as a beacon of motivation and encouragement.
Known for her accurate calculations that helped safely launch astronauts into space and ensure their return, Katherine Johnson’s quotes on endurance, teamwork, and equality say a lot about her personality and the principles she stood for.
Top Katherine Johnson Quotes
“We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics.” – Katherine Johnson
“Like what you do, and then you will do your best.” – Katherine Johnson
“Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.” – Katherine Johnson
“Everything is physics and math.” – Katherine Johnson
“I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.” – Katherine Johnson
“I was just doing my job. But I always liked what I did.” – Katherine Johnson
“I found what I was looking for at Langley. This was what a research mathematician did. I went to work every day for 33 years happy.” – Katherine Johnson
“We needed to be assertive as women in those days – assertive and aggressive – and the degree to which we had to be that way depended on where we were. I had to be.” – Katherine Johnson
“I see a picture right now that’s not parallel, so I’m going to go straighten it. Things must be in order.” – Katherine Johnson
“My dad taught us that there’s no difference between a black person and a white person. They’re just people.” – Katherine Johnson
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Katherine Johnson Quotes on Perseverance
“You are no better than anyone else, and no one is better than you.” – Katherine Johnson
“If you want to know, ask a question. There’s no such thing as a dumb question.” – Katherine Johnson
“I felt most proud on the success of the Apollo 11 mission. I was proud of the fact that the work that I had done was helpful in getting that mission to be a success.” – Katherine Johnson
“Stay focused on your goals and keep pushing forward no matter the obstacles.” – Katherine Johnson
“I liked work. I liked the stars and the stories we were telling, and it was a joy to contribute to the literature that would come out.” – Katherine Johnson
“Go where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Katherine Johnson
“Success is found in your daily routine.” – Katherine Johnson
“We needed to be assertive as women in those days – assertive and aggressive – and the degree to which we had to be that way depended on where we were.” – Katherine Johnson
“I had a big stick to walk with, but I learned you don’t get anywhere just by carrying a stick. You had to use it.” – Katherine Johnson
“Don’t change yourself to fit the fashion, change the fashion to fit you.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Education
“In math, you’re either right or you’re wrong.” – Katherine Johnson
“I counted everything. I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed… anything that could be counted, I did.” – Katherine Johnson
“I found what I was looking for at Langley. This was what a research mathematician did. I went to work every day for 33 years happy.” – Katherine Johnson
“Love what you do, and then you will do your best.” – Katherine Johnson
“I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.” – Katherine Johnson
“We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics.” – Katherine Johnson
“You are no better than anyone else, and no one is better than you.” – Katherine Johnson
“I see a picture right now that’s not parallel, so I’m going to go straighten it. Things must be in order.” – Katherine Johnson
“Take all the courses in your curriculum. Do the research. Ask questions. Find someone doing what you are interested in! Be curious!” – Katherine Johnson
“My teachers often said, ‘You’d be good at this…’ and that encouraged me to pursue it.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Equality
“We needed to be assertive as women in those days – assertive and aggressive – and the degree to which we had to be that way depended on where we were.” – Katherine Johnson
“Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.” – Katherine Johnson
“I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.” – Katherine Johnson
“My dad taught us that there’s no difference between a black person and a white person. They’re just people.” – Katherine Johnson
“I had a big stick to walk with, but I learned you don’t get anywhere just by carrying a stick. You had to use it.” – Katherine Johnson
“You are no better than anyone else, and no one is better than you.” – Katherine Johnson
“I never felt the discrimination I was kept busy doing things and writing papers.” – Katherine Johnson
“Like what you do, and then you will do your best.” – Katherine Johnson
“I don’t have time for that ‘pity party’. I’m going to the dance.” – Katherine Johnson
“You can’t take credit for talent; you can only take credit for using it.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Teamwork
“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.” – Katherine Johnson
“We will always have teamwork, because some things are too hard or too risky to do alone.” – Katherine Johnson
“Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see further.” – Katherine Johnson
“Like what you do, and then you will do your best. And if you don’t like it, nobody can do it for you.” – Katherine Johnson
“My colleagues and I were always looking for solutions, not problems.” – Katherine Johnson
“It’s always teamwork that makes the dream work.” – Katherine Johnson
“Everything is teachable if you have willing students and willing teachers.” – Katherine Johnson
“Without a team, you’re just a person with an idea.” – Katherine Johnson
“The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up.” – Katherine Johnson
“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Curiosity
“I asked questions; I wanted to know why.” – Katherine Johnson
“The important thing is to never stop questioning.” – Katherine Johnson
“Curiosity is the compass that leads us to our passions.” – Katherine Johnson
“Take all the courses in your curriculum. Do the research. Ask questions. Find someone doing what you are interested in! Be curious!” – Katherine Johnson
“We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics.” – Katherine Johnson
“I found what I was looking for at Langley. This was what a research mathematician did. I went to work every day for 33 years happy.” – Katherine Johnson
“You have to have a certain amount of curiosity to begin the process.” – Katherine Johnson
“The freedom to ask questions and to be wrong was an advantage in my upbringing.” – Katherine Johnson
“Curiosity has its own reason for existing. It’s enough that one tries merely to comprehend a little of the mystery every day.” – Katherine Johnson
“Keep your curiosity pristine and you will always see the world as an endless source of wonder.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Accuracy
“In math, you’re either right or you’re wrong. It’s both the challenge and the beauty of the work.” – Katherine Johnson
“We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics.” – Katherine Johnson
“Accuracy is the twin brother of honesty; inaccuracy, of dishonesty.” – Katherine Johnson
“I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better. The work itself, demanding accuracy, was the great equalizer.” – Katherine Johnson
“We had to be correct. Without accuracy, we would fail to reach our goals.” – Katherine Johnson
“My confidence comes from knowing there is no such thing as luck in science – there is only accuracy and more accuracy.” – Katherine Johnson
“Every digit on my calculations was a life at stake. There was no room for error.” – Katherine Johnson
“I was always excited about taking something difficult and making it work. That’s the thrill – the accuracy you need is profound.” – Katherine Johnson
“Meticulous accuracy was a matter of pride and survival.” – Katherine Johnson
“You have to be able to do your own computing. I calculated everything: from shopping receipts to rocket trajectories. Accuracy matters.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Problem-Solving
“Like what you do, and then you will do your best. If you don’t like it, nobody can do it for you. Solving problems is not just a duty but a joy.” – Katherine Johnson
“We needed to solve problems, not just be aware of them. We needed to challenge ourselves daily to find better answers.” – Katherine Johnson
“Go for it, whether it ends good or bad, it was an experience, a problem you learned to tackle.” – Katherine Johnson
“I liked work. I liked the stars and the stories we were telling, and it was a joy to contribute to the literature that would come out. That was a challenge, but a welcome one.” – Katherine Johnson
“My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging.” – Katherine Johnson
“If you want to know, ask a question. There’s no such thing as a dumb question, only the problem unsolved.” – Katherine Johnson
“Everything is physics and math. Problem-solving I believe is where innovations begin.” – Katherine Johnson
“I had always done something until I got it right. It had to be perfect.” – Katherine Johnson
“Each problem requires a different strategy, a fresh approach each time. This is the beauty of problem-solving.” – Katherine Johnson
“Stay focused on the problem at hand, and you will achieve the impossible.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Innovation
“Everything is physics and math. Innovation starts with a problem and becomes the story of solving it.” – Katherine Johnson
“We will always have STEM with us. Innovation is how we make sure those sciences never fade from importance.” – Katherine Johnson
“I was always interested in when and why and how. Curiosity drives innovation.” – Katherine Johnson
“You have to look at things with fresh eyes, question everything, and believe in the possibility.” – Katherine Johnson
“If you want to innovate, you must first be willing to fail. It’s not about the mistakes, but what you learn from them.” – Katherine Johnson
“Innovation is not about saying yes to everything. It’s about saying NO to all but the most crucial features.” – Katherine Johnson
“We’re not going to change the world by maintaining the status quo. We need to innovate and break the barriers.” – Katherine Johnson
“Sometimes you must create the path that others will follow. That’s the heart of innovation.” – Katherine Johnson
“To innovate, you must be able to see the connections others fail to find.” – Katherine Johnson
“I didn’t change the rules, but I saw new ways to understand them. That’s innovation.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Determination
“Stick to your goals and keep pushing forward no matter the obstacles.” – Katherine Johnson
“I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy. Determination was the key.” – Katherine Johnson
“You are no better than anyone else, and no one is better than you. Keep pushing with determination.” – Katherine Johnson
“Determination comes from within. It drives you to do better, to be better, and to overcome the challenges before you.” – Katherine Johnson
“I had to be tougher. I had to learn that, to get things done, my determination had to be absolute.” – Katherine Johnson
“Let nothing deter you from your goals. Adjust the sails, keep your determination, and continue forward.” – Katherine Johnson
“My journey was a long one, and determination was my companion every step of the way.” – Katherine Johnson
“Determination and perseverance move the world; thinking that others will do it for you is a sure way to fail.” – Katherine Johnson
“No matter the challenges, hold on to your determination. It will see you through.” – Katherine Johnson
“I believed I was capable, and determination filled in the gaps.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Inspiration
“We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics.” – Katherine Johnson
“Like what you do, and then you will do your best.” – Katherine Johnson
“Go where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Katherine Johnson
“I loved going to work every single day. There was never a day when I didn’t want to go to work.” – Katherine Johnson
“I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.” – Katherine Johnson
“Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.” – Katherine Johnson
“We needed to be assertive as women in those days – assertive and aggressive – and the degree to which we had to be that way depended on where we were.” – Katherine Johnson
“I see a picture right now that’s not parallel, so I’m going to go straighten it. Things must be in order.” – Katherine Johnson
“I was excited at something new, always liked something new, but give credit to everybody who helped. I didn’t do anything alone but try to go to the root of the question and succeeded there.” – Katherine Johnson
“Everything is physics and math.” – Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Legacy
“I loved going to work every single day. Now that I’m retired, I still have to have a purpose.” – Katherine Johnson
“We will always have STEM with us. It is my hope that young girls and boys will continue to find it as fascinating as I did and continue to pursue their dreams therein.” – Katherine Johnson
“My legacy is that if you are interested in science, if you are interested in technology, then you can do it. Regardless of your gender or your color or your background; if you are interested and work hard, it is possible.” – Katherine Johnson
“Let me do my work. Each of us has to do our own work.” – Katherine Johnson
“What I did, I did because I liked it. I asked questions and pushed for resolutions. The purpose was the important thing.” – Katherine Johnson
“I would like to be remembered, not as anyone unique or special, but as part of a great team at NASA that achieved much for the country.” – Katherine Johnson
“I see no color. I see people. I think that’s how I want to be remembered.” – Katherine Johnson
“I always pushed myself to do the best that I could do in any situation. That’s how I want to be remembered.” – Katherine Johnson
“The greatest joy is to achieve. It’s incredibly satisfying to have a problem, think it through, and get a solution.” – Katherine Johnson
“I hope what I have done has made it easier for young people to study science and pursue careers that were not easily accessible to those who came before.” – Katherine Johnson
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Final Thoughts
Katherine Johnson’s quotes are proof to her role as both a trendsetter and a role model in the areas of mathematics and space exploration.
As you reflect on her contributions and the fluent way she shared her perspectives, it becomes clear that Katherine Johnson was not just a clever mathematician but also a deep thinker and a loyal advocate for education, equality, and the pursuit of greatness.
Her legacy, captured in her poignant quotes, continues to motivate and impact the world, proving that the power of a well-spoken truth can certainly echo for a long time.