It’s human nature to stretch, to go, to see, to understand. Exploration is not a choice, really; it’s an imperative.
— Michael Collins
To go places and do things that have never been done before – that’s what living is all about.
— Michael Collins

I see more moon missions as delaying Mars, which is a much more interesting place to go.
— Michael Collins

I really believe that if the political leaders of the world could see their planet from a distance of, let’s say 100,000 miles, their outlook would be fundamentally changed. The all-important border would be invisible, that noisy argument suddenly silenced.
— Michael Collins
I knew I was alone in a way that no earthling has ever been before.
— Michael Collins

I think a future flight should include a poet, a priest and a philosopher… we might get a much better idea of what we saw.
— Michael Collins

I am alone now, truly alone, and absolutely isolated from any known life. I am it. If a count were taken, the score would be three billion plus two over on the other side of the moon, and one plus God knows what on this side.
— Michael Collins
We are off! And do we know it, not just because the world is yelling ‘Liftoff’ in our ears, but because the seats of our pants tell us so! Trust your instruments, not your body, the modern pilot is always told, but this beast is best felt. Shake, rattle and roll!
— Michael Collins
Gemini 10 flies no more. We are but awkward trespassers bobbing at the mercy of a new set of experts.
— Michael Collins
