Maria Mitchell: I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persist...

There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.

Maria Mitchell

happy beauty happiness

We have a hunger of the mind which asks for knowledge of all around us, and the more we gain, the more is our desire; the more we see, the more we are capable of seeing.

Maria Mitchell

educational change inspirational

No woman should say, "I am but a woman!" But a woman! What more can you ask to be?

Maria Mitchell

asks wisdom should

The greatest benefit derived from the study of science is that it lifts you out of and above the littleness of daily trials. We learn to live in the universe as a part of it; we cannot seperate ourselves from it - our every act connects us with it - our every act affects the whole. Standing under the canopy of stars and remembering their presence you could scarcely do a petty deed, or think a wicked thought.

Maria Mitchell

wicked stars thinking

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

Maria Mitchell

space stars trying

We especially need imagination in science. Question everything.

Maria Mitchell

questioning imagination needs

Besides learning to see, there is another art to be learned - not to see what is not.

Maria Mitchell

art

In my younger days, when I was painted by the half-educated, loose and inaccurate ways women had, I used to say, "How much women need exact science" But since I have known some workers in science, I have now said, "How much science needs women"

Maria Mitchell

half science needs

But why look back at all? Why turn your eyes to your shadow, when, by looking upward, you see your rainbow in the same direction?

Maria Mitchell

rainbow shadow eye

The world of learning is so broad, and the human soul is so limited in power! We reach forth and strain every nerve, but we seize only a bit of the curtain that hides the infinite from us.

Maria Mitchell

nerves soul world

A sphere is made up of not one, but an infinite number of circles; women have diverse gifts, and to say that women's sphere is the family circle is a mathematical absurdity.

Maria Mitchell

spheres circles numbers

When we are chafed and fretted by small cares, a look at the stars will show us the littleness of our own interests.

Maria Mitchell

perspective stars caring

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.

Maria Mitchell

inspiration country travel

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

Maria Mitchell

nature law science

The greatest object in educating is to give a right habit of study.

Maria Mitchell

habit study giving

Why can a man not act himself, be himself, and think for himself? It seems to me that naturalness alone is power; that a borrowed word is weaker than our own weakness, however small we may be.

Maria Mitchell

acceptance men thinking

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.

Maria Mitchell

catholic church yesterday

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

Maria Mitchell

people-disappoint disappoint people

The eye that directs a needle in the delicate meshes of embroidery will equally well bisect a star with the spiderweb of the micrometer.

Maria Mitchell

embroidery stars eye

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.

Maria Mitchell

exercise writing book

I had only ordinary capacity but extraordinary persistency.