Stephen Hawking was one of the greatest minds of our universe. Not only has he changed and revolutionised the way we see and perceive the world around us, but he also taught us not to give up in the face of adversity. One of the strongest people in history in both mind and spirit, Hawking remains one of the world’s most beloved scientists with the biggest heart.
Here are 11 inspiring and motivational quotes from his books about life and the universe.
1. “When we see the Earth from space, we see ourselves as a whole. We see the unity, and not the divisions. It is such a simple image with a compelling message; one planet, one human race.”
― Stephen Hawking, Brief Answers to the Big Questions
2. “The universe doesn’t allow perfection. One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn’t exist… without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.”
― Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time
3. “So remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up. Unleash your imagination. Shape the future.”
― Stephen Hawking, Brief Answers to the Big Questions
4. “I have noticed that even those who assert that everything is predestined and that we can change nothing about it still look both ways before they cross the street.”
― Stephen Hawking, Black Holes and Baby Universes and Other Essays
5. “When you are faced with the possibility of an early death, it makes you realise that there are lots of things you want to do before your life is over.”
― Stephen Hawking, Brief Answers to the Big Questions
6. “But humans are a curious species. We wonder, we seek answers. Living in this vast world that is by turns kind and cruel, and gazing at the immense heavens above, people have always asked a multitude of questions: How can we understand the world in which we find ourselves? How does the universe behave? What is the nature of reality? Where did all this come from? Did the universe need a creator?”
― Stephen Hawking, The Grand Design
7. “I will never be as brave as him—I’m not by nature a particularly courageous person—but he showed me that I could try. And that trying might turn out to be the most important part of courage.”
― Stephen Hawking, Brief Answers to the Big Questions
8. “I have led an extraordinary life on this planet, while at the same time travelling across the universe by using my mind and the laws of physics. I have been to the furthest reaches of our galaxy, travelled into a black hole and gone back to the beginning of time. On Earth, I have experienced highs and lows, turbulence and peace, success and suffering. I have been rich and poor, I have been able-bodied and disabled. I have been praised and criticised, but never ignored. I have been enormously privileged, through my work, in being able to contribute to our understanding of the universe. But it would be an empty universe indeed if it were not for the people I love, and who love me. Without them, the wonder of it all would be lost on me.”
― Stephen Hawking, Brief Answers to the Big Questions
9. “Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”
― Stephen Hawking, A Briefer History of Time
10. “And one final point—we never really know where the next great scientific discovery will come from, nor who will make it. Opening up the thrill and wonder of scientific discovery, creating innovative and accessible ways to reach out to the widest young audience possible, greatly increases the chances of finding and inspiring the new Einstein. Wherever she might be.”
― Stephen Hawking, Brief Answers to the Big Questions
11. “Be brave, be curious, be determined, overcome the odds. It can be done.”
― Stephen Hawking, Brief Answers to the Big Questions
Page By Paige 