In the vast universe of inspirational figures, few stars shine as brightly as Katherine Johnson. Her calculations helped launch astronauts into space, but her words of wisdom continue to launch dreams right here on Earth.
As an African American mathematician whose pencil and mind helped shape America’s success in space exploration, Johnson’s quotes aren’t just inspirational—they’re fuel for anyone facing seemingly impossible odds.
This collection of 40 powerful Katherine Johnson quotes captures the essence of a woman who didn’t just break the glass ceiling—she soared beyond it into the stars. Whether you’re seeking motivation for your professional journey, educational path, or personal growth, Johnson’s words offer timeless guidance from someone who truly lived what she preached.
Who is Katherine Johnson?
Born in 1918 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, Katherine Johnson was a mathematical prodigy whose brilliance couldn’t be contained by the segregated educational system of her time.
By age 13, she attended high school on the campus of historically black West Virginia State College, and by 18, she had graduated from the college itself with highest honors in mathematics and French.
Johnson’s career as an African American mathematician began as a “computer”—the term then used for people who performed mathematical calculations—at the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA. Her exceptional ability to perform complex manual calculations made her indispensable during the early days of America’s space exploration program.
“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.”
Despite the dual barriers of racism and sexism, Johnson’s brilliance couldn’t be denied. Her calculations were crucial for plotting the trajectories of spacecraft, including Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 mission, John Glenn’s Friendship 7 mission, and the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.
Her remarkable contributions to space exploration remained largely unrecognized until recent years. The 2016 film “Hidden Figures” brought her story to the mainstream, and in 2015, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Johnson passed away in February 2020 at the age of 101, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking achievements.
Famous Katherine Johnson Quotes
Katherine Johnson’s wisdom spans both famous quotes and deeply inspirational sayings that continue resonating today. Her most famous quotes often reflect her practical approach to excellence:
“Like what you do, and then you will do your best” and “In math, you’re either right or you’re wrong.” These straightforward insights reveal her no-nonsense perspective on achievement.
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Education and Learning
Education was not just important to Katherine Johnson—it was essential. Growing up when educational opportunities for African Americans were severely limited, she understood the transformative power of learning better than most.
- “Like what you do, and then you will do your best.” – Johnson believed passion and education went hand in hand.
- “My dad taught us ‘you are as good as anybody in this town, but you’re no better.'” – This foundational belief empowered her educational journey despite societal obstacles.
- “I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.” – Johnson’s healthy self-confidence fueled her lifelong learning.
- “Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.” – Her belief in equal intellectual capacity shaped her approach to education.
- “We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and will go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology.” – Johnson recognized the timeless nature of STEM education.
- “Take all the courses in your curriculum. Do the research. Ask questions. Find someone doing what you are interested in! Be curious!” – Her approach emphasized thoroughness and curiosity.
- “I was always around people who were learning something. I liked to learn.” – Johnson’s environment fostered her lifelong love of learning.
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Perseverance
Perseverance and determination defined Katherine Johnson’s approach to life and career. Working in an environment where both her gender and race presented significant barriers, Johnson developed extraordinary resilience.
- “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 you were.” – Johnson understood that women empowerment sometimes required pushing back.
- “I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.” – This grounded confidence helped her persist when others doubted her abilities.
- “I see a picture right now that’s not parallel, so I’m going to go straighten it. Things must be in order.” – Her attention to detail drove her scientific excellence.
- “We always worked as a team. It’s never just one person.” – Johnson recognized that persistence often requires collaborative support.
- “I was excited at the idea of going to work every day. The pay was as good, but the work was better.” – Her intrinsic motivation helped sustain her through challenges.
- “In math, you’re either right or you’re wrong.” – This clarity of purpose helped Johnson tackle complex problems.
- “You are no better than anyone else, and no one is better than you.” – This fundamental belief in equality fueled her determination when others marginalized her contributions.
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Mathematics and Science
Katherine Johnson’s relationship with mathematics wasn’t merely professional—it was almost spiritual. Her unique way of seeing numbers enabled her pioneering work in NASA calculations.
- “I counted everything. I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed…” – Johnson’s mathematical thinking permeated every aspect of her life.
- “Everything was so new – the whole idea of going into space was new and daring. There were no textbooks, so we had to write them.” – She helped create the foundational knowledge for modern space exploration.
- “I like to learn. That’s an art and a science.” – Johnson saw the beautiful intersection between creativity and precision in mathematics.
- “You tell me when you want it and where you want it to land, and I’ll do it backwards and tell you when to take off.” – This quote captures her mastery of orbital mechanics.
- “Many times I’d work all day and then all night. You had to get it right.” – Her commitment to mathematical precision reflected the life-or-death nature of her calculations.
- “The stars, Earth, sun, moon… nobody told me to look for them. I just did.” – Johnson’s natural curiosity about the universe informed her scientific approach.
- “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.” – Finding fulfillment in mathematics was central to her identity.
Katherine Johnson Inspirational Quotes
Her inspirational quotes, meanwhile, address breaking barriers with statements like “Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.”
Whether discussing perseverance (“We needed to be assertive as women in those days”), mathematics (“I counted everything”), or teamwork (“We always worked as a team”), Johnson’s words combine humility with confidence.
Together, these quotes form a roadmap for facing challenges with both determination and grace.
Katherine Johnson Quotes on Breaking Barriers
As a Black woman in mid-20th century America, Katherine Johnson didn’t just encounter barriers—she shattered them. Her quotes on breaking barriers reveal a woman who refused to be limited by others’ expectations.
- “Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.” – Johnson consistently advocated for women in science.
- “I don’t have a feeling of inferiority… I’m as good as anybody, but no better.” – This balanced self-confidence allowed her to push boundaries without being intimidated.
- “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 you were.” – Johnson recognized that breaking barriers required strategic assertiveness.
- “I was just doing my job, and I did my job the best I could.” – Her focus on excellence rather than comparison helped her overcome limitations.
- “Let me do it. You tell me when you want it and where you want it to land, and I’ll do it backwards and tell you when to take off.” – This quote captures her confident approach to solving seemingly impossible problems.
- “The women did what they were told to do. They didn’t ask questions or take the task any further. I asked questions; I wanted to know why.” – Johnson’s intellectual curiosity pushed her beyond assigned limitations.
- “We always worked as a team. It’s never just one person.” – Even while breaking individual barriers, Johnson recognized the collective nature of progress.
Katherine Johnson’s Wisdom on Life and Success
Beyond her mathematical brilliance, Katherine Johnson developed profound insights about life, success, and fulfillment. Her philosophy combined practicality with optimism, creating a roadmap for meaningful living.
- “Like what you do, and then you will do your best.” – Johnson believed passion was the foundation for excellence.
- “I was excited at the idea of going to work every day. The pay was as good, but the work was better.” – Finding meaning beyond material rewards defined her approach to career.
- “We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and will go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology.” – Johnson recognized the enduring nature of fundamental knowledge.
- “I don’t have a feeling of inferiority. Never had. I’m as good as anybody, but no better.” – This balanced self-assessment provided a stable foundation for her life philosophy.
- “Take all the courses in your curriculum. Do the research. Ask questions. Find someone doing what you are interested in! Be curious!” – Her approach to life emphasized thorough preparation and curiosity.
- “In math, you’re either right or you’re wrong.” – Johnson appreciated clarity and truth-seeking as life values.
- “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.” – Finding alignment between personal passion and professional opportunity was key to her fulfillment.
Katherine Johnson on Teamwork and Collaboration
Despite her individual brilliance, Katherine Johnson consistently emphasized the collaborative nature of scientific achievement. Her work at NASA occurred within teams of “computers” and engineers working toward common goals.
- “We always worked as a team. It’s never just one person.” – Johnson consistently deflected individual praise to acknowledge collective effort.
- “They got the answer they wanted, and the stars didn’t fall out of the sky.” – Her practical approach to teamwork focused on results rather than personal credit.
- “I was just doing my job. They called my results ‘critical’ and ‘vintage.’ It was my job and I did it.” – Johnson understood that reliable individual contribution forms the foundation of team success.
- “The women did what they were told to do. They didn’t ask questions or take the task any further. I asked questions; I wanted to know why.” – She believed effective collaboration required intellectual engagement from all team members.
- “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 you were.” – Johnson recognized that effective teamwork sometimes required assertiveness.
- “I was excited at the idea of going to work every day.” – Her enthusiasm for the collaborative environment at NASA fueled her longevity there.
- “You tell me when you want it and where you want it to land, and I’ll do it backwards and tell you when to take off.” – This quote reflects her collaborative approach to problem-solving with astronauts and engineers.
Timeline: Katherine Johnson’s Remarkable Life
| Year | Milestone |
| 1918 | Born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia |
| 1932 | Enrolled in high school on campus of West Virginia State College at age 13 |
| 1937 | Graduated summa cum laude from West Virginia State College |
| 1939 | Selected as one of three African American students to integrate West Virginia University’s graduate school |
| 1953 | Hired by NACA (later NASA) as a “computer” |
| 1961 | Calculated trajectory for Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 mission |
| 1962 | Verified computer calculations for John Glenn’s orbital flight |
| 1969 | Helped calculate trajectories for Apollo 11 moon landing |
| 2015 | Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama |
| 2016 | Portrayed in the film “Hidden Figures” |
| 2020 | Passed away at age 101 |
Final Thoughts
Katherine Johnson’s journey from a math prodigy in segregated West Virginia to NASA legend embodies true perseverance and determination. Her quotes offer practical wisdom for facing life’s challenges with grace and excellence.
As an African American mathematician who transformed space travel, Johnson proved brilliance knows no boundaries. Her words particularly resonate with women in STEM today, backed by her decades of groundbreaking work.
Most striking is how Johnson found joy amid adversity, working “33 years happy” despite facing racism and sexism. Her legacy reminds us that lasting impact comes not from seeking fame, but from pursuing excellence with integrity.
Johnson’s calculations launched astronauts to space—but her words continue launching dreams on Earth, inspiring anyone striving to make their own impossible possible.
