Stephen Hawking
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"Stephen William Hawking" ;}} born 8 January 1942) is an English theoretical physics/theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge. His scientific works include a collaboration with Roger Penrose on Penrose–Hawking singularity theorems/gravitational singularity theorems in the framework of general relativity, and the theoretical prediction that black holes emit radiation, often called Hawking radiation. Hawking was the first to set forth a cosmology explained by a union of the general relativity/general theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. He is a vigorous supporter of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics.

Hawking is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce/Royal Society of Arts, a lifetime member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. Hawking was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge between 1979 and 2009.

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The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.

When one's expectations are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything one does have.

It matters if you just don't give up.

I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.

The whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may or may not be divinely inspired.

Not only does God play dice with the Universe - he sometimes casts them where they can't be seen.

I think that it's important for scientists to explain their work, particularly in cosmology. This now answers many questions once asked of religion.

All the evidence shows that God was actually quite a gambler, and the universe is a great casino, where dice are thrown, and roulette wheels spin on every occasion.

We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.

Equations are just the boring part of mathematics. I attempt to see things in terms of geometry.

For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imaginations, we learned to talk.

My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.

To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.

If human life were long enough to find the ultimate theory, everything would have been solved by previous generations. Nothing would be left to be discovered.

It is a waste of time to be angry about my disability. One has to get on with life and I haven't done badly. People won't have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.

We could call order by the name of God, but it would be an impersonal God. There's not much personal about the laws of physics.

I have hardly ever known a mathematician who was able to reason.

We shouldn't be surprised that conditions in the universe are suitable for life, but this is not evidence that the universe was designed to allow for life.

Not only does God play dice, but... he sometimes throws them where they cannot be seen.