Chen-Ning Yang Quotes

National image ... prestige among other nations ... It was the main purpose of the civil space program.

For a country like ours that needs to stay ahead of the world or go under, we must do great, ambitious things - like going to the moon - to survive.

You tell me which society is going to be the winner in this 21st Century: One that worries about how we feel or the one that worries about making sure that the next generation has the capacity to eat everybody's lunch.

We're only going to be able to compete in the world if we continue to be innovative.

Learning from the American experience, governments around the world have developed national innovation policies and programs to accelerate their economic prosperity and to help their citizens and companies compete globally.

American greatness was elevated significantly after Sputnik.

We're not necessarily the ski boat, we're the skier. There are countries like Japan and Korea and others who are the ski boat at this point, but we're getting pulled right behind them.

In 1962, President Kennedy succeeded in captivating Americans by explaining the advantages of being the first country to reach the moon and the dangers of allowing another nation to beat us there.

Postwar U.S. was the world's leader in science and technology. The investment in science research was staggering.

For those of us who have lived abroad and seen our nation in a highly competitive 21st century, and kind of see where this world is going - unless we are able to strengthen our core, we're going to see the end of the American century. And that is totally unacceptable.

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, investments in science and technology have proved to be reliable engines of economic growth. If homegrown interest in those fields is not regenerated soon, the comfortable lifestyle to which Americans have become accustomed will draw to a rapid close.

I'd rather see the United States as a beacon of good work and good citizenship, rather than as #1 on some international educational measurement.

Out-innovating them is the way to beat China. And to do everything that we do in this country to support innovative policy, that drives innovation and new products and more jobs and creates jobs. You can't - you can't put a wall up around here. We tried that in the '30s. It didn't work.

Anyone who tells you that America is in decline or that our influence has waned doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

Our nuclear scientists and engineers have done a splendid job, and naturally, the entire nation has risen to salute their professional excellence, discipline, and patriotism. They have had the benefit of having been led in the past by great men like Homi Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai.

In an era of ever-increasing globalization, what it takes to become and remain a science superpower has fundamentally changed.

The moon landing was such a magnificent accomplishment in U.S. space history. I think that boots on the moon was just one indicator of the rapid technology advancement and really just showed what we can do when all of us are dedicated to a single goal over a long period of time.

We must face up to a difficult paradox: The U.S. can maintain a leading position in science only by giving up its desire to be number one.

Maintaining America's role as the greatest nation in the world means we must stay the course.

If we don't concentrate on resurrecting science, we're not going to be able to compete in a global economy.

The only way to continue to have a robust economy is to out-innovate other nations.

I aim to be a competitive nation.

No one can question the talent of India's youth after the success of the Mars Mission. Everything indigenous!

Dear Iranian nation, your children have placed the first indigenous satellite into orbit.

The launch of PSLV-C23 fills every Indian's heart with pride and I can see the joy and satisfaction on your faces. Feel privileged to watch this in person.