25 Best Mae Jemison Quotes and Sayings for Success

Mae Jemison is the first African American woman in space who is also a doctor, engineer and former NASA astronaut.

Born in Alabama and raised in Chicago, she graduated from Stanford and Cornell universities.

Despite racial discrimination, she persisted, serving as a Peace Corps medical officer before joining NASA. Post-NASA, she founded The Jemison Group, taught at Dartmouth, created an international space camp and a nonprofit organization.

Currently, she leads the 100 Year Starship project. Her life is a testament to resilience, academic excellence, and significant contributions to community activities.

Mae-Jemison-Quotes

Related: Lorraine Hansberry Quotes and Eleanor Roosevelt Quotes.

Below I have outlined the most famous quotes by Mae Jemison.


Best Mae Jemison Quotes

1. “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

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2. “The future never just happened. It was created.” ~ (Mae Carol Jemison).

3. “Once I got into space, I was feeling very comfortable in the universe. I felt like I had a right to be anywhere in this universe, that I belonged here as much as any speck of stardust, any comet, any planet.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

4. “You have the right to be involved. You have something important to contribute, and you have to take the risk to contribute it.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

5. “Greatness can be captured in one word: lifestyle. Life is God’s gift to you, style is what you make of it.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

6. “Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

7. “What we find is that if you have a goal that is very, very far out, and you approach it in little steps, you start to get there faster. Your mind opens up to the possibilities.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

8. “I always knew I’d go to space.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

9. “We look at science as something very elite, which only a few people can learn. That’s just not true. You just have to start early and give kids a foundation. Kids live up, or down, to expectations.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

Top Mae Jemison Quotes

10. “The thing that I have done throughout my life is to do the best job that I can and to be me.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

11. “Science provides an understanding of a universal experience, and arts provides a universal understanding of a personal experience.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

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12. “When God made the color purple, God was just showing off.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

13. “The arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

14. “I wanted to be a professional dancer for a period of time, and I did a lot of dancing and choreography and got paid for it.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

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15. “Some of the most fun people I know are scientists.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

Famous Mae Jemison Quotes

16. “As an astronaut, you have a very defined set of tasks to do. Those tasks may require you to work 60, 70 or 80 hours a week.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

17. “My parents were comfortable with me exploring areas that they were not proficient in. Some parents just aren’t comfortable with that.” ~ (Mae Jemison).

18. The biggest challenge we face is shifting human consciousness, not saving the planet. The planet doesn’t need saving, we do. ~ (Mae Jemison).

19. I always knew I wanted to do something involved with space. I wanted to be an astronaut or a physicist. ~ (Mae Jemison).

20. The first thing about being a leader is you have to have a vision. ~ (Mae Jemison).

21. If we want scientists and engineers in the future, we need to start developing that passion in children today. ~ (Mae Jemison).

22. Education is not about sitting and listening, it’s about being able to run with the new ideas. ~ (Mae Jemison).

23. I think science and technology are the most powerful things in society. They are something that is molded with humanity. Humanity molds technology and science. They are interdependent and intertwined. ~ (Mae Jemison).

24. Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination. ~ (Mae Jemison).

25. The thing that struck me as I watched the election was that almost no one in Washington knew how to make a decision. ~ (Mae Jemison).


Short Biography of Mae Jemison

Mae Carol Jemison, an accomplished American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut, made history as the first African-American woman in space during her 1992 mission on the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Mae Jemison

Born in Alabama and raised in Chicago, Jemison was inspired by science and space from a young age, influenced by shows like Star Trek.

She pursued her passion through education, earning degrees from Stanford University and Cornell Medical School, and later working as a doctor in the Peace Corps.

Full Name Mae Carol Jemison
Born 17 October 1956 (age 67 years), Decatur, Alabama, United States
Education Stanford University (BA, BS), Cornell University (MD), Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences (1981), MORE
Selection NASA Group 12 (1987)
Space missions STS-47
Time in space 7d 22h 30m
Retirement March 1993
Parents Charlie Jemison, Dorothy Green
Siblings Charles Jemison, Ada Jemison Bullock

After joining NASA in 1987, Jemison flew into space in 1992, and post-NASA, she founded a technology company, started an educational foundation, and contributed to various projects and media, becoming a notable figure in science and education.


Quick Facts about Mae Jemison

  • Mae Jemison overcame her fear of heights through astronaut training.
  • She became the first Black woman to travel in space.
  • Jemison followed in the footsteps of the first woman in space, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova.
  • At Stanford, she choreographed a musical called “Out of the Shadows.”
  • Jemison has been passionate about dance since she was 8 years old.
  • Her choreography was influenced by her identity as a Black woman and her passion for dance.
  • She appeared on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in 1993.
  • Mae Jemison was inspired by Lieutenant Uhura from Star Trek, played by Nichelle Nichols.
  • Out of 2,000 applicants, Jemison was one of the 15 accepted into NASA in 1987.
  • She flew on NASA’s 50th space shuttle mission, STS-47, in 1992.
  • Jemison has made several TV appearances to promote science and technology.
  • She appeared as herself in the TV special “Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond” in 1996.
  • During the STS-47 mission, she focused on bone cell research.
  • Mae Jemison founded The Jemison Group and the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence.
  • The Dorothy Jemison Foundation focuses on science literacy for students aged 12 to 16.
  • In 2001, Jemison published a memoir titled “Find Where the Wind Goes.”
  • She co-authored the children’s book series “A True Book” with Dana Meachen Rau.
  • Mae Jemison has her own LEGO figure in the “Women of NASA” set released in 2017.
  • The “Women of NASA” LEGO set includes a booklet about the featured women.
  • Jemison has received numerous awards and honorary degrees for her contributions to science.
  • She was recognized with the Essence Science and Technology Award in 1988.
  • Jemison received the Kilby Science Award in 1993.
  • People magazine listed her as one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World” in 1993.
  • Jemison’s love for the arts didn’t wane even as she pursued a degree in chemical engineering.
  • Her experiences with discrimination influenced her creative work and advocacy.
  • Jemison’s appearance on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” marked her as the first real astronaut on the show.
  • She applied to NASA for the first time in 1983 but was accepted after reapplying in 1987.
  • Jemison’s media appearances include roles in films, documentaries, and TV shows.
  • The STS-47 mission involved extensive research in microgravity and life sciences.
  • Jemison’s work extends beyond her space career, impacting science education and representation.

Top Questions about Mae Jemison

Q: When was Mae Jemison born?

A: Mae Jemison was born on October 17, 1956.

Q: What historic achievement is Mae Jemison known for in 1992?

A: Mae Jemison is known for becoming the first African-American woman to travel into space in 1992.

Q: Where did Mae Jemison grow up?

A: Mae Jemison was raised in Chicago, Illinois.

Q: Which universities did Mae Jemison attend for her undergraduate and medical degrees?

A: Mae Jemison graduated from Stanford University and then earned her medical degree from Cornell University.

Q: How did Mae Jemison contribute to the Peace Corps?

A: Mae Jemison served as a doctor for the Peace Corps in Liberia and Sierra Leone from 1983 until 1985.

Q: After leaving NASA, what kind of organization did Jemison found?

A: After leaving NASA, Jemison founded a technology research company and later a non-profit educational foundation.

Q: Can you name a television show that influenced Mae Jemison’s interest in space?

A: “Star Trek,” especially the character Lieutenant Uhura played by Nichelle Nichols, influenced Mae Jemison’s interest in space.

Q: At what age did Mae Jemison start her ballet training?

A: Mae Jemison began studying ballet at the age of 8 or 9.

Q: What was Mae Jemison’s role in her only space mission with NASA?

A: Mae Jemison served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour during the STS-47 mission.

Q: What educational project is associated with the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence?

A: The Earth We Share, a science camp for students aged 12 to 16, is associated with the Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence.

Q: In what year did Mae Jemison leave NASA, and what was her next venture?

A: Mae Jemison left NASA in 1993 to start a technology research company.

Q: How did Mae Jemison integrate her love for dance with her space mission?

A: Mae Jemison took a poster from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and a West African statuette with her on her space flight.

Q: What was Mae Jemison’s profession before joining NASA?

A: Before joining NASA, Mae Jemison worked as a general practitioner.

Q: What unique role did Mae Jemison have on the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s STS-47 mission?

A: Mae Jemison was designated as the Science Mission Specialist, a role focused on scientific experiments.

Q: Describe one of Mae Jemison’s contributions to space research during her mission.

A: Mae Jemison tested NASA’s Fluid Therapy System in space, which involved producing saline solution from water for injection.

Q: How many space missions did Mae Jemison participate in?

A: Mae Jemison participated in one space mission.

Q: What significant achievement did Mae Jemison accomplish in space?

A: Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to go into space at 36 years old.

Q: What types of experiments did Mae Jemison conduct during her space mission?

A: During her space mission, Mae Jemison conducted experiments in life sciences, material sciences, and was a co-investigator in a bone cell research experiment.

Q: Can you share a famous quote by Mae Jemison?

A: Mae Jemison famously said, “Never be limited by other people’s imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination.”

Q: What accomplishments made Mae Jemison famous?

A: Mae Jemison is renowned for being the first African American woman in space, her career as a medical doctor, her service as a Medical Officer in the Peace Corps, and her leadership of BioSentient Corp.

Q: What is Mae Jemison currently known for?

A: Currently, Mae Jemison is recognized for her work as a scientist, public speaker, and the numerous awards and honorary doctorates she has received for her contributions to science and space exploration.


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Chandan Negi
Chandan Negi

I’m the Founder of InternetPillar.com and InboxQuotes.com - I love sharing inspirational quotes and motivational content to inspire and motivate people - #quotes #motivation #internetpillar #inboxquotes