The Calculating Stars Quotes

“It’s hard to convince people that catastrophic weather changes are coming on a nice day.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Without a plane, what was I supposed to do? Math the problem to death?”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Even geniuses can be stupid when they’re scared.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Nathaniel and I were a healthy young married couple, so most of the stars I saw were painted across the inside of my eyelids.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Now, explain it to me very slowly, like I’m a congressman.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Grief pops up at the strangest times.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“I have three books you need to read. Rise of the Rocket Girls by Nathalia Holt, Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, and The Glass Universe by Dava Sobel. All three of these books focus on the women mathematicians—the “computers”—who powered astronomy and rocketry.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“thank you for giving me a place where I can be awful, and find my way back again.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Then Tommy pulled back his shoulders and recited, “Lo marbechem mikol ha’amim chashak Hashem ba’chem, va’yichbar ba’chem ki atem hahm’at mikol ha’amim…” No wobble. No fear. Just a clear, youthful voice, reaching toward Heaven and God’s ears. … It is not because you are the most numerous of peoples that the LORD set His heart on you and chose you—indeed, you are the smallest of peoples … I was going to need another handkerchief.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Don Herbert here. Sorry about that. I think we got disconnected.” “Yes. I … I was wondering what happened.” Liar. I covered my eyes and leaned forward to rest my elbows on the desk. “You were saying?” “That we’d like to have you on the show. I thought we could talk about the physics of flight, maybe do a simple experiment about lift? The format is real simple.” “I wish I could, but we’re so busy preparing for the next launch. I just don’t know if I could get the time off.” “We can work around your schedule.” “That’s very kind, but … maybe I could suggest another woman pilot?” Betty would be brilliant at this. “Sure … it’s just that, well, my producer’s girl is kinda keen that it be you. I don’t need an answer right away, but think about it, eh?” “Sure. Sure. I’ll think about it.” I would think of a way to say “no,” is what I would do. *”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“How many of us had died leaving no one behind to light the yahrzeit candles and recite the Kaddish prayer?”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“God. Spare me from the kindness of strangers.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Yes. Marriage, too, is a threshold between Before and After. We have many of these, every day, which we do not recognize. The threshold is not the question. There will always be Befores and Afters. The question is: what do you do after you cross that threshold?”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Do I have to explain the glories of a fresh cup of coffee? The deep redolent steam rising from the cup woke me before the first gloriously bitter drop even touched my lips. Not just bitter, but caressing waves of dark alertness. I sighed and relaxed into my chair. “Thank you.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“There is something magic about takeoffs. I know people who are afraid of flying who say that the takeoffs and landings are the only hard parts, perhaps because that’s when the act of flying is most apparent. I love the way you get pushed back into your seat. The weight and the sense of momentum press against you and the vibrations from the tarmac hum through the yoke and into your palms and legs. Then, suddenly, everything stops and the ground drops away. It”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Nathaniel sat up and reached for the mic. His hand was shaking. “We aren’t dead. So, yes.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“I slid onto the cold vinyl seat and leaned across it to pull out wires from under the steering column. It was easier to focus on something concrete like hot-wiring a car than on whatever was happening.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“He held up the book as I approached his desk. “Have you had the opportunity to read this yet?” “No, sir.” “It has a Captain York in it, who sounds remarkably like your husband.” He gestured toward a chair. “Sit, sit. Have you ever met this Bradbury chap?”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“He held up the book as I approached his desk. “Have you had the opportunity to read this yet?” “No, sir.” “It has a Captain York in it, who sounds remarkably like your husband.” He”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“The book he held had a rocket in front of a dusty red landscape on the cover, and looked more like a novel than a technical paper.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“Basira, who had come to us from Algiers, made a face. “So, then he tried to show me how to use a slide rule!” “No—for a differential equation?” Myrtle, the only other American in our group, covered her mouth and laughed until her cheeks turned red. “What a buffoon.”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars

“His shrug was small and sad as he gestured me through the door. I stepped into the foyer. Through the open doors I could just make out the comforting light of the eternal flame hanging in”
― Mary Robinette Kowal, The Calculating Stars