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.

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

Mission Control will be perfect. When you leave this meeting today you will go to your office and the first thing you will do there is to write "Tough and Competent" on your blackboards. It will never be erased. Each day when you enter the room these words will remind you of the price paid by Grissom, White, and Chaffee. These words are the price of admission to the ranks of Mission Control.

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

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.