We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.
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.
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
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.
More from Stephen Hawking
All quotes →I 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.
Similar quotes
The experimenter who does not know what he is looking for will not understand what he finds.
The enemy of science is not religion... . The true enemy is the substitution of thought, reflection, and curiosity with dogma.
New, distant Scenes of endless Science rise: So pleas'd at first, the towring Alps we try.
Nuclear energy, in terms of an overall safety record, is better than other energy.
I had a feeling once about Mathematics - that I saw it all. Depth beyond depth was revealed to me - the Byss and Abyss. I saw - as one might see the transit of Venus or even the Lord Mayor's Show - a quantity passing through infinity and changing its sign from plus to minus. I saw exactly why it happened and why the tergiversation was inevitable but it was after dinner and I let it go.
I am on the edge of mysteries and the veil is getting thinner and thinner.