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Throughout history, people have studied pure science from a desire to understand the universe rather than practical applications for commercial gain. But their discoveries later turned out to have great practical benefits.
Stephen Hawking
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Pure science often emerges from curiosity and the pursuit of understanding, leading to practical benefits over time.

This quote by Stephen Hawking highlights the intrinsic human desire to explore and comprehend the universe through pure science, which is often driven by curiosity rather than immediate practical applications. It suggests that while the motivation may not initially focus on commercial gain, the discoveries made through such explorations can eventually result in significant practical benefits for society, underscoring the value of science as a pursuit of knowledge.

Themes

ScienceCuriosityUnderstandingDiscoveriesBenefits

In practice

Example use cases

In a lecture about the importance of scientific research, one could quote Hawking to emphasize the long-term benefits of pure science.

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In my opinion, there is no aspect of reality beyond the reach of the human mind.
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