Maria Mitchell Quotes

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.

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

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 born, for instance, incapable of appreciating music.

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

I have just gone over my comet computations again, and it is humiliating to perceive how very little more I know than I did seven years ago when I first did this kind of work.

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

We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry.

Small aids to individuals, large aid to masses.

There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.

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.

I had, early in life, a love for staging, but it is fast dying out. Nine hours over a rough road are enough to root out the most passionate love of that kind.

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

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.

We especially need imagination in science.

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

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

The world of learning is so broad, and the human soul is so limited in power!

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.

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.

Question everything.

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.

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