52 Buzz Aldrin Quotes (MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION)

In the grand narrative of space exploration and human ambition, few names resonate as profoundly as Buzz Aldrin. Known for his monumental role as one of the first two humans to set foot on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission, Aldrin is a figure whose words and deeds have inspired countless dreamers.

These quotes are not just tales from a journey to the moon; they are shards of wisdom from a man who dared to step into the unknown, forever changing our perception of the universe and our place within it. They offer insights into courage, resilience, and the principles that guided Aldrin’s extraordinary journey.

Whether you’re a space enthusiast, an aspiring astronaut, or simply someone captivated by the mysteries of the cosmos, these quotes will challenge your thinking, deepen your understanding, and inspire you to reach beyond your perceived limits.

Top 10 Most Famous Buzz Aldrin Quotes (APOLLO 11)

“Some people don’t like to admit that they have failed or that they have not yet achieved their goals or lived up to their own expectations. But failure is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you are alive and growing.”
Buzz Aldrin

To me, that is one of the most important principles of life: Never leave your friends behind.

Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon. I am the first man to piss his pants on the moon.

I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don't intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises. — I believe that every human has a finite number of heart-beats. I don’t intend to waste any of mine running around doing exercises.

Your mind is like a parachute: If it isn’t open, it doesn’t work.

“From the distance of the Moon, Earth was four times the size of a full moon seen from Earth. It was a brilliant jewel in the black velvet sky. Yet it was still at a great distance, considering the challenges of the voyage home.”
Buzz Aldrin

I think humans will reach Mars, and I would like to see it happen in my lifetime.

Bravery comes along as a gradual accumulation of discipline. — **Bravery** comes along as a gradual accumulation of discipline.

If we can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger.

31 Inspirational Buzz Aldrin Quotes on Life, Exploration, and the Moon

“KEEP IN MIND THAT progress is not always linear. It takes constant course correcting and often a lot of zigzagging. Unfortunate things happen, accidents occur, and setbacks are usually painful, but that does not mean we quit.”
Buzz Aldrin

The universe is the way it is. It's not going to be changed by supplications. — The universe is the way it is. It’s not going to be changed by supplications.

Exploration is wired into our brains. If we can see the horizon, we want to know what's beyond. — Exploration is wired into our brains. If we can see the horizon, we want to know what’s beyond.

Negativity doesn’t get anybody anywhere. It takes reacting to all of life in a positive way to make the most out of what you’ve experienced and to make a better life and a better world.

“Resilience is what humans have and resilience is what humans need to take advantage of—their ability to explore and to understand and then to react positively and with motivation, not as a defeatist, to the constant flow of challenges.”
Buzz Aldrin

Knowledge of the past and an optimistic view of the present give you great opportunities. — **Knowledge** of the past and an optimistic view of the present give you great opportunities.

Like all living systems, cultures cannot remain static; they evolve or decline. They explore or expire. — Like all living systems, **cultures** cannot remain static; they evolve or decline. They explore or expire.

Many say exploration is part of our destiny, but it's actually our duty to future generations and their quest to ensure the survival of the human species. — Many say exploration is part of our destiny, but it’s actually our duty to **future** generations and their quest to ensure the survival of the human species.

“When we set out to land people on the surface of Mars, I think we should as a nation, as a world, commit ourselves to supporting a growing settlement and colonization there. To visit a few times and then withdraw would be an unforgivable waste of resources.”
Buzz Aldrin

They didn’t tell me I was going into space until after they locked the shuttle doors and started counting down.

My Mother's maiden name was Marion MOON! I guess it was destiny. — My Mother’s maiden name was Marion MOON! I guess it was destiny.

Being first outside the spacecraft would bring much more responsibility, and I really wasn't looking for that. — Being first outside the spacecraft would bring much more **responsibility**, and I really wasn’t looking for that.

“It certainly didn’t make me feel lonely, except to realize that we were as far away as people had ever been. Once we were on the surface of the Moon we could look back and see the Earth, a little blue dot in the sky. We are a very small part of the solar system and the whole universe. The sky was black as could be, and the horizon was so well defined as it curved many miles away from us into space.”
Buzz Aldrin

There's a tremendously satisfying freedom associated with weightlessness. It's challenging in the absence of traction or leverage, and it requires thoughtful readjustment. — There’s a tremendously satisfying **freedom** associated with weightlessness. It’s challenging in the absence of traction or leverage, and it requires thoughtful readjustment.

I'm in favor of changing the destination of humans. There are a lot of manned missions that can be done, but not in the direction of the moon. — I’m in favor of changing the destination of humans. There are a lot of manned missions that can be done, but not in the direction of the moon.

We had this whole big beautiful place for discovery, and all we could think to do with it was wipe out everything that made it worth discovering.

“I know the sky is not the limit, because there are footprints on the Moon—and I made some of them! So don’t allow anyone to denigrate or inhibit your lofty aspirations. Your dream can take you higher and much farther than anyone ever thought possible! I know mine did.”
Buzz Aldrin

A family needs to work as a team, supporting each other's individual aims and aspirations. — A family needs to work as a team, supporting each other’s individual aims and aspirations.

History gets reinterpreted as time goes on. Many times, the participants are lost in the retelling of the story.

I still say, 'Shoot for the moon; you might get there.' — I still say, ‘Shoot for the moon; you might get there.’

Regardless of how you believe the universe was created, it is there waiting for humans to explore.

“We can continue to try and clean up the gutters all over the world and spend all of our resources looking at just the dirty spots and trying to make them clean. Or we can lift our eyes up and look into the skies and move forward in an evolutionary way.”
Buzz Aldrin

America must dream again, and have the faith to achieve the dream. — America must **dream** again, and have the faith to achieve the dream.

Fear paralyzes in many ways, but especially if it keeps you from responding wisely and intelligently to challenges. — **Fear** paralyzes in many ways, but especially if it keeps you from responding wisely and intelligently to challenges.

The only way to overcome your fears is to face them head-on. — The only way to overcome your **fears** is to face them head-on.

Returning to Earth, that was the challenging part.

“There’s a need for accepting responsibility – for a person’s life and making choices that are not just ones for immediate short-term comfort. You need to make an investment, and the investment is in health and education.”
Buzz Aldrin

My first words of my impression of being on the surface of the Moon that just came to my mind was ‘magnificent desolation.’

Choose your heroes wisely, and be careful who you idolize. Why? Simple: you will become like the people with whom you most often associate.

Take a good, long, honest, positive look at what good can come out of every situation you’re in.

“This is your history you’re living right now. So do what you can to make the most of what comes along. And please, don’t try to do everything on your own. There are a lot of people out there in the universe who wish you well and want to be your friend. Let them help you. You don’t have to carry it all on your own.”
Buzz Aldrin

11 Buzz Aldrin Quotes And His Thoughts About Going to Mars And Staying There

“When you go to Mars, you need to have made the decision that you’re there permanently. The more people we have there, the more it can become a sustaining environment. Except for very rare exceptions, the people who go to Mars shouldn’t be coming back. Once you get on the surface, you’re there.”
Buzz Aldrin

“If we go back to the moon, we’re guaranteed second, maybe third place because while we are spending all that money, Russia has its eye on Mars. Landing people on the moon will be terribly consuming of resources we don’t have. It sounds great – ‘Let’s go back. This time we’re going to stay.’ I don’t know why you would want to stay on the moon.”
Buzz Aldrin

Going to Mars would evolve humankind into a two-planet species.

“I’m convinced that sending people to Mars is so expensive that if you go once and bring the people back and then go again and bring the people back, we’re eventually going to run out of money. But what if we send people the first time and they don’t come back? What if they stay there?”
Buzz Aldrin

The best way to study Mars is with two hands, eyes and ears of a geologist, first at a moon orbiting Mars… and then on the surface.

“The purpose of going to Mars is for humans to first begin to occupy, permanently, another planet in the solar system. The astronauts or pilgrims, whatever you might call them, are going to be very historically unique human beings.”
Buzz Aldrin

Mars is far more attractive as an outpost colony for earthlings than the moon is.

“We should go boldly where man has not gone before. Fly by the comets, visit asteroids, visit the moon of Mars. There’s a monolith there. A very unusual structure on this potato shaped object that goes around Mars once in seven hours. When people find out about that they’re going to say ‘Who put that there? Who put that there?’ The universe put it there. If you choose, God put it there…”
Buzz Aldrin

The guys who walk on Mars are going to be historic.

“We need to begin thinking about building permanence on the Red Planet, not just have voyagers do some experiments, plant a flag and claim success. Having them go there, repeat this, in my view, is dim-witted. Why not stay there?”
Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin Short Biography

Born on 20 January 1930 in Montclair, New Jersey, US, Buzz Aldrin (formerly known as Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr.) is one of the first humans to ever land and walk on the Moon.

Although he was second to his mission commander, Neil Armstrong, to take the first steps on it, Aldrin was the first ever to take a selfie on the Moon.

Aldrin’s first impression of the moon was that it was a “magnificent desolation” – magnificent for the achievement that they have achieved, but desolate for the view that they have come to face with.

He regarded the moon bleak for it had no oxygen, no life, and that it had remained unchanging for thousands of years in the sea of darkness.

Before his career and all his success from being an astronaut, Aldrin finished third in his class with a degree of Aeronautical Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point, thereafter he commissioned into the United States Air force and fought as a jet pilot in the Korean War, flying 66 combat missions and even shooting down two MiG-15 aircraft.

Although Aldrin is famous for being a great astronaut, an explorer, a rocket scientist, and even known as an American hero, his life was filled with challenges and tragedies. He suffered depression and alcoholism, but today at the astonishing age of 90, he has never let these impediments hold him down. He powered through all these things and achieved his dreams and even more.

Further reading:

Buzz Aldrin Hates Being Called the Second Man on the Moon – National Geographic
When Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong Were Nearly Stranded on the Moon – History
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Supports Victims of COVID-19 by Autographing Special Post-Moon Visit Quarantine Picture – PR Newswire

Here are the best Buzz Aldrin’s quotes so you can take inspiration from his perseverance to overcome obstacles to gain the historical and successful life that he has achieved.

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**No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon**

Also read:

Top 10 Most Famous Buzz Aldrin Quotes (APOLLO 11)

31 Inspirational Buzz Aldrin Quotes on Life, Exploration, and the Moon

11 Buzz Aldrin Quotes And His Thoughts About Going to Mars And Staying There

Buzz Aldrin Short Biography

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