We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.
In real time, the universe has a beginning and an end at singularities that form a boundary to space-time and at which the laws of science break down.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote discusses the boundaries of our understanding of the universe, specifically at its beginnings and ends where current scientific laws fail.
Stephen Hawking's quote reflects on the nature of the universe, explaining that there are points, known as singularities, where traditional physics and science cannot adequately describe what occurs. These singularities represent the limits of our knowledge and the framework of space-time, suggesting that understanding the full nature of the universe involves grappling with these mysterious boundaries.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture about the cosmos, one might reference this quote to emphasize the limits of our current scientific understanding.
More from Stephen Hawking
All quotes βI regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.
It surprises me how disinterested we are today about things like physics, space, the universe and philosophy of our existence, our purpose, our final destination. Its a crazy world out there. Be curious.
I was not a good student. I did not spend much time at college; I was too busy enjoying myself.
The world has changed far more in the past 100 years than in any other century in history. The reason is not political or economic but technological-technologies that flowed directly from advances in basic science. Clearly, no scientist better represents those advances than Albert Einstein: TIME's Person of the Century.
In my opinion, there is no aspect of reality beyond the reach of the human mind.
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Science does not promise absolute truth, nor does it consider that such a thing necessarily exists. Science does not even promise that everything in the Universe is amenable to the scientific process.
I hope that some day scientists can be considered heroes again, instead of Paris Hilton.
A scientist's aim in a discussion with his colleagues is not to persuade, but to clarify.
That is the way of the scientist. He will spend thirty years in building up a mountain range of facts with the intent to prove a certain theory; then he is so happy with his achievement that as a rule he overlooks the main chief fact of all-that all his accumulation proves an entirely different thing.