Maria Mitchell Quotes

A young sailor boy came to see me today. It pleases me to have these lads seek me on their return from their first voyage, and tell me how much they have learned about navigation.

Altogether, St. Louis is a growing place, and the West has a large hand and a strong grasp.

As a general rule, people disappoint you as you know them.

Do not look at stars as bright spots only. Try to take in the vastness of the universe.

Every formula which expresses a law of nature is a hymn of praise to God.

I am always the better for open-air breathing, and was certainly meant for the wandering life of the Indian.

I am just learning to notice the different colors of the stars, and already begin to have a new enjoyment.

I have never been in any country where they did not do something better than we do it, think some thoughts better than we think, catch some inspiration from heights above our own.

I have worn myself thin trying to find out about this comet, and I know very little now in the matter.

I made observations for three hours last night, and am almost ill today from fatigue; still I have worked all day, trying to reduce the places, and mean to work hard again tonight.

I saw, in looking over Cooper, elements of a comet of 1825 which resemble what I get out for this, from my own observations, but I cannot rely upon my own.

I was a little doubtful about the propriety of going to the Mammoth Cave without a gentleman escort, but if two ladies travel alone they must have the courage of men.

I was born, for instance, incapable of appreciating music.

I would as soon put a girl alone into a closet to meditate as give her only the society of her needle.

It is sad to see a woman sacrificing the ties of the affections even to do good.

Question everything.

Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow.

That knowledge which is popular is not scientific.

The love of one's own sex is precious, for it is neither provoked by vanity nor retained by flattery; it is genuine and sincere.

The Southern character is opposed to haste. Safety is of more worth than speed, and there is no hurry.

There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.

To read a book, to think it over, and to write out notes is a useful exercise; a book which will not repay some hard thought is not worth publishing.

We especially need imagination in science.

We travel to learn; and I have never been in any country where they did not do something better than we do it, think some thoughts better than we think, catch some inspiration from heights above our own.

Yesterday I had a Shaker visitor, and today a Catholic; and the more I see and hear, the less do I care about church doctrines.