We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.
Stephen HawkingRead
We think that life develops spontaneously on Earth, so it must be possible for life to develop on suitable planets elsewhere in the universe. But we don't know the probability that a planet develops life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that if life can arise on Earth, it should be possible on other planets, although the likelihood remains unknown.
Stephen Hawking's quote reflects on the natural development of life, implying that our understanding of life's emergence on Earth suggests it could occur in similar conditions on other planets across the universe. However, it also highlights the uncertainty surrounding the probabilities of life existing elsewhere, emphasizing the mystery that still surrounds the origins of life itself.
Themes
LifeUniversePlanetsProbabilityEarth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a lecture about astrobiology to illustrate the possibilities of extraterrestrial life.
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