Jim Lovell quotes

Jim Lovell is an American astronaut and retired naval officer, best known as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission. His calm leadership during the mission’s crisis helped avert disaster and ensured the safe return of his crew. He continues to inspire with his story of teamwork, problem-solving, and courage under pressure. Here are 8 of his quotes:

Be thankful for problems. If they were less difficult, someone with less ability might have your job.

Jim Lovell

The lunar flights give you a correct perception of our existence. You look back at Earth from the moon, and you can put your thumb up to the window and hide the Earth behind your thumb. Everything youve ever known is behind your thumb, and that blue-and-white ball is orbiting a rather normal star, tucked away on the outer edge of a galaxy.

Jim Lovell

Houston, we've had a problem here.

Jim Lovell

The Moon is essentially gray - no color - looks like plaster of paris - soft of gray sand.

Jim Lovell

I didnt go into the NASA program to pick up rocks or to go the moon or anything else. I went in there because I was a military officer, and that was the next notch in my profession.

Jim Lovell

Boys like either dinosaurs or airplanes. I was very much an airplane boy.

Jim Lovell

I was only a hero by default. The flights were few and far between. There weren't that many astronauts. The moon flights were so interesting and exciting.

Jim Lovell