Wernher von Braun

Rocket engineer, space program

Modern influential 99 sayings

Sayings by Wernher von Braun

Nature does not know extinction; all it knows is transformation.

1970s — Philosophical reflection
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Man is the first animal clever enough to build his own extinction machine.

1960s — Warning about nuclear weapons
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

What we need is more people who specialize in the impossible.

1970s — Encouraging ambitious research
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

We knew that we had created a new means of warfare, and the question as to what to do with it was a moral problem for the world, not for us.

1960 — Interview with Life Magazine
Humorous Unverifiable

It is not a question of whether we will go to Mars, but when.

1960s — Speech at a rocket conference
Humorous Unverifiable

My father was a sportsman and a hunter, and he taught me to shoot when I was very young. I was always interested in what made things go.

1960s — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

The greatest gain from space travel is the opportunity to see the Earth from a distance.

1960s — Speech or writing
Humorous Unverifiable

My brain is like a sponge. I soak up everything I hear and read.

1960s — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I aim at the stars, but hit the moon.

1950s-1960s — Attributed, often used to describe his pragmatic approach
Humorous Unverifiable

If I have to choose between a rocket and a woman, I'll take the rocket.

1940s-1950s — Humorous remark, reported by colleagues
Humorous Unverifiable

A good scientist is a man with an original mind who can think straight, but who also has a practical sense of what is possible.

1960s — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I'm a natural-born optimist. I believe that we're going to solve all our problems.

1960s — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

The American taxpayer is going to get a good return on his investment in space.

1960s — Speech to Congress
Humorous Unverifiable

I believe that space travel is the only way to save humanity.

1960s — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable

I'm not interested in war, I'm interested in rockets.

1940s — Reported by biographer
Humorous Unverifiable

The time will come when we can no longer afford to live on Earth.

1970s — Speech or writing
Humorous Unverifiable

I have never seen a rocket that didn't want to fly.

1950s-1960s — Attributed, a common saying among his team
Humorous Unverifiable

We are on the threshold of a new era of space exploration.

1960s — Speech
Humorous Unverifiable

Failure is not an option.

1960s — While often attributed to NASA, von Braun used similar sentiments in his work ethic.
Humorous Unverifiable

The Earth is too small for us.

1970s — Interview
Humorous Unverifiable