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Stephen Hawking - Insightful Quotes & Biography

 

"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

"We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special."

"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change."

"The universe is not indifferent to our existence - it depends on it."

"Life would be tragic if it weren't funny."

"We are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity. We cannot remain looking inwards at ourselves on a small and increasingly polluted and overcrowded planet."

"The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities."

"I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers."

"The universe is a pretty big place. If it's just us, seems like an awful waste of space."

"Theoretical physics is one of the few fields in which being disabled is no handicap - it is all in the mind."

"The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people."

"The universe doesn't allow perfection."

"I believe the simplest explanation is, there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate."

"I have ALS and it hasn't stopped me from doing what I want. It hasn't stopped me from exploring the universe or marrying the woman I love."

"The human capacity for guilt is such that people can always find ways to blame themselves."

"The whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may or may not be divinely inspired."

"People won't have time for you if you are always angry or complaining."

"If you understand how the universe operates, you control it, in a way."

"I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road."

"The past is just a story we tell ourselves."

"The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible."

"However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at."

"One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist."

"We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special."

"The past is always influencing the present and the future, but the past is not controlling it. And we have the power to change the future."

"My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus."

"The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition."

"Life is like a game of poker. You have to play the hand you're dealt. It doesn't matter what cards you get but how you play them that counts."

"The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know."

"The scientific theory I like best is that the rings of Saturn are composed entirely of lost airline luggage."

"We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet."

"It is not clear that intelligence has any long-term survival value."

"The downside of my celebrity is that I cannot go anywhere in the world without being recognized. It is not enough for me to wear dark sunglasses and a wig. The wheelchair gives me away."

"There are no black holes, just an infinite number of books, each containing a unique story that we can experience."

"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

"If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason -- for then we would know the mind of God."

 

"We are in danger of destroying ourselves by our greed and stupidity. We cannot remain looking inwards at ourselves on a small and increasingly polluted and overcrowded planet."

"The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people."

"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change."

"People won't have time for you if you are always angry or complaining."

"I think the human race doesn't have a future if it doesn't go into space. I therefore want to encourage public interest in space."

"Time travel used to be thought of as just science fiction, but Einstein's general theory of relativity allows for the possibility that we could warp space-time so much that you could go off in a rocket and return before you set out."

"We are all different, but we share the same human spirit."

"The universe doesn't allow perfection."

"I believe that life on Earth is at an ever-increasing risk of being wiped out by a disaster, such as a sudden nuclear war, a genetically engineered virus, or other dangers. I think the human race has no future if it doesn't go into space."

"I am just a child who has never grown up. I still keep asking these 'how' and 'why' questions. Occasionally, I find an answer."

"I think we have a good chance of surviving long enough to colonize the solar system."

 

 

Stephen Hawking - Biography

Stephen Hawking was a renowned theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and author. He was born on January 8, 1942, in Oxford, England, and passed away on March 14, 2018, in Cambridge, England, at the age of 76.

Despite being diagnosed with ALS at the age of 21 and given only a few years to live, he went on to have a remarkable career, contributing significantly to our understanding of the universe and black holes.

Brief History

He was born into an academic family in Oxford, England. He studied physics at University College, Oxford, and received his Ph.D. in cosmology from Trinity College, Cambridge. His early work focused on the singularity theorem, which established that singularities, like the Big Bang, were a generic feature of the universe.

In 1963, he was diagnosed with ALS, a motor neuron disease that left him wheelchair-bound and unable to speak without the aid of a computerized voice synthesizer. Despite his physical limitations, he continued to work and make groundbreaking contributions to theoretical physics and cosmology.

Major Works

His most famous work is his book "A Brief History of Time," which was published in 1988 and became an international bestseller. In the book, he explains complex scientific concepts, such as the origins of the universe and the nature of time, in a way that is accessible to the general public.

His contributions to theoretical physics and cosmology are numerous and varied. He developed the idea that the universe had a beginning and was not eternal, which was supported by the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation. He also showed that black holes emit radiation, now known as Hawking radiation.

Awards and Accolades

He received numerous awards and honors throughout his lifetime, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. He was also a fellow of the Royal Society and a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

In 1979, he was appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, a position previously held by Isaac Newton. He held this position until 2009 and was succeeded by Michael Green.

Major Works

His work on black holes and the nature of the universe is perhaps his most significant contribution to science. His book "A Brief History of Time," published in 1988, became an instant bestseller and made him a household name. In it, he explained complex scientific concepts in a way that was accessible to the general public.

His later work focused on the origins of the universe, specifically the idea that the universe began with a singularity, or a point of infinite density and temperature, which then expanded rapidly in an event known as the Big Bang. His work on this topic included the books "The Universe in a Nutshell" and "The Grand Design."

His contributions to the study of black holes are also significant. He proposed that black holes were not entirely black, but rather emitted radiation, now known as Hawking radiation, due to quantum effects. This idea challenged the long-held belief that nothing could escape the gravitational pull of a black hole.

Awards and Accolades

He received numerous awards and honors throughout his lifetime. In 1974, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, Britain's premier scientific organization. In 1979, he was appointed the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge, a position once held by Sir Isaac Newton.

He was also awarded numerous honorary degrees from universities around the world, including Oxford, Yale, and the University of Paris. In 1982, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and in 1989 he was awarded the prestigious Albert Einstein Medal.

Legacy and Impact

His work has had a profound impact on the field of theoretical physics and our understanding of the universe. His contributions to the study of black holes and the origins of the universe have fundamentally changed the way we think about the universe and our place in it.

In addition to his scientific contributions, he was also a strong advocate for disability rights and a popularizer of science. His public lectures and books made complex scientific concepts accessible to the general public and inspired countless people to pursue careers in science.

His life and work continue to inspire and influence people around the world. His legacy is a testament to the power of human curiosity and the potential for people to make significant contributions to our collective knowledge and understanding of the universe.

Bibliography

"A Brief History of Time" (1988)
"Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays" (1993)
"The Universe in a Nutshell" (2001)
"On the Shoulders of Giants: The Great Works of Physics and Astronomy" (2002)

"The Grand Design" (2010)

 

 

 

 

 

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