Stephen Hawking, the legendary theoretical physicist, has died aged 76. He was diagnosed with ALS, a form of degenerative Motor Neurone Disease, when he was a 21-year-old graduate student. The disease eventually shut down his motor functions, rendering him speechless and wheelchair-bound. We draw inspiration from this amazing man through some of his best quotes.
Persistence
However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up.
Appreciate what you do have
When I turned 21, my expectations were reduced to zero. It was important that I came to appreciate what I did have. It’s also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can lose all hope if you can’t laugh at yourself and at life in general.
Look up at the stars
One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don't throw it away.
Don’t be disabled in spirit
My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit, as well as physically.
What’s worse than ignorance?
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance. It is the illusion of knowledge.
Change
Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.
Don’t get furious if you get stuck
It is no good getting furious if you get stuck. What I do is keep thinking about the problem but work on something else. Sometimes it is years before I see the way forward. In the case of information loss and black holes, it was 29 years.
Use your time wisely
I have so much that I want to do. I hate wasting time.
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Picture: The Commons (2008)