When she was nine years old, Octavia Butler saw a science fiction movie called “Devil Girl From Mars” and thought to herself: “I can write a better story than that.” She went on to become the first widely recognized Black female science fiction writer, publishing 12 novels in all. She was the only sci-fi writer ever to be awarded a MacArthur “Genius” Grant, which she added to her Nebula Award, Hugo Award, and PEN Lifetime Achievement Award. She used fiction to tell stories of deep truth, imparting wisdom that transcends genre, gender, or race. Even as the times have changed, her stories continue to entertain and enlighten. 

These final words in Sharon Begley’s 1977 “Newsweek” profile on famed astronomer Carl Sagan have often been misattributed to the scientist himself. But the phrase was actually written by Begley, to summarize Sagan’s interest in exploring the cosmos for electromagnetic waves to determine if extraterrestrial life exists. Begley concludes the profile by admitting that while “there may be no galumphing green Barsoomian giants to satisfy the fantasies of a romantic Brooklyn boy,” there was “no doubt” that there were “even stranger discoveries to be made. Some totally new phenomenon, perhaps.” Begley’s ending statement invites us to remain eternally curious. Our most far-fetched imaginings (galumphing green giants, for example) may pale in comparison to the wonders of what the universe — and our lives — hold in store.

In today’s hustle culture it’s easy to feel sometimes that achievement and productivity are the only standards by which our value is measured. But it’s crucial to remember that every success starts with a small step, an initial investment, a simple plan. With this quote, motivational writer William A. Ward speaks to the importance of patience, urging us to find satisfaction and pride in even our smallest strides.