Stephen Hawking is the former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and author of A Brief History of Time which was an international bestseller.
In 1963 Stephen was diagnosed with ALS, a form of Motor Neurone Disease, shortly after his 21st birthday. In spite of being wheelchair-bound and dependent on a computerised voice system for communication Stephen combined family life (three children, three grandchildren) with his research into theoretical physics, as well as an extensive programme of travel and public lectures. He was one of the most beloved scientists in his generation and combined a soaring intellect with a great sense of humour. He left behind provocative as well as comical quotes.
While there’s life, there is hope.
Life would be tragic if it weren’t funny.
If you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don’t throw it away.
It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.
People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.
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.
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.We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet.
Not only does God play dice, but… he sometimes throws them where they cannot be seen.
Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.
Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet.
Hawking told NASA Space Station astronauts in 2014, we wish the same for him: “May you keep flying like superman in microgravity.”
