Maria Mitchell Quotations

I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persistency.

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.

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

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.

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

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

A young sailor boy came to see me to-day. 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.

For women there are, undoubtedly, great difficulties in the path, but so much the more to overcome. First, no woman should say, "I am but a woman!" But a woman! What more can you ask to be?

The phrase ‘popular science’ has in itself a touch of absurdity. That knowledge which is popular is not scientific.

Small aids to individuals, large aid to masses.