50 Quotes by Gene Kranz

Let’s work the problem, people. Let’s not make things worse by guessing.

I don’t care what anything was designed to do, I care about what it can do.

You can not operate in this room unless you believe that you are Superman, and whatever happens, you’re capable of solving the problem.

We had risen to probably one of the greatest challenges in history, put a man on the moon in the decade. We’d created incredible technologies. But what was most important, we’d created the teams, what I call the human factor. People who were energized by a mission.

We’ve never lost an American in space, we’re sure as hell not gonna lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option.

To recognize that the greatest error is not to have tried and failed, but that in trying, we did not give it our best effort.

High-risk leadership beckons many, but few accept the call.

Apollo succeeded at critical moments like this because the bosses had no hesitation about assigning crucial tasks to one individual, trusting his judgment, and then getting out of his way.

Loading new software into new computers and using it for the first time was like playing Russian roulette. It demanded and got a lot of respect.