Cecilia Payne Quotes

Young people, especially young women, often ask me for advice. Here it is, valeat quantum. Do not undertake a scientific career in quest of fame or money. There are easier and better ways to reach them. Undertake it only if nothing else will satisfy you; for nothing else is probably what you will receive. Your reward will be the widening of the horizon as you climb. And if you achieve that reward you will ask no other.

Your reward will be the widening of the horizon as you climb. And if you achieve that reward, you will ask no other.

I was to blame for not having pressed my point. I had given in to Authority when I believed I was right. That is another example of How Not To Do Research. I note it here as a warning to the young. If you are sure of your facts, you should defend your position.

The 400% Kindness Return: A True Story I firmly believe that every act of kindness ripples out into the world, returning to you multiplied. Here's a story that forever changed how I see generosity. A Mother's Sacrifice: Sarah, a single mother of two young children, knew every penny counted. Collecting aluminum cans with her kids was a small but essential way they scraped by. Trips to the recycling center were hard-earned rewards.

Close analysis of starlight revealed that stars are made of the same kinds of atoms as we find here on Earth, with Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin eventually proving that they are mostly hydrogen and helium.

Unassuming Angels, Radiant Light They live among us, these "bigger, better angels," as God might call them. They are the unassuming souls, transparent in their humility, who dwell in the shadows yet radiate a contagious joy, a beacon where despair and harsh truth often hide. Our extended family lost one of these angels today. He departed with no grand fanfare, leaving behind an indelible spark in our hearts, a flame that will forever burn. His life, a testament to generosity and kindness, mirrored the inherent goodness that resides within us all. He spread his light effortlessly, a silent teacher demonstrating how we ought to live. Now, though our lives are immeasurably enriched by his presence, we are left with an enormous emptiness, a void where his radiant spirit once shone. These "bigger, better angels" walk amongst us, crowned jewels of heaven, living unassuming lives while bathed in the light of God himself. And if you are fortunate enough to have known one, know that you are blessed beyond measure. ~Cecilia Payne (Kat) Kaelin