Stephen Hawking was an inspiration to many people. Academically, he shone.
Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University, Hawking did ground-breaking work on black holes, wrote 16 books and managed to make science sexy again – an impressive feat! And yet, he is remembered for so much more. From his incredible triumph over ALS, the disease he was diagnosed with at the age of 21, to his sense of humour and quick wit, Hawking seemed to embrace all that life had to offer.
For this reason, we wanted to dedicate a post to him, sharing all we learned from the incredible man in a round up of our favourite quotes. It has to be said, Hawking had a remarkable way with words.
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up.”
We chose this quote because it seems to sum up Hawking perfectly in its recognition of curiosity and endurance. There is so much to learn about the world around us and the more we explore, the better we become, both personally and in business. This quote is a real inspiration to us and reminds us to be curious. It can be easy to focus on the negative and in doing so, feel confined by our perceived boundaries of the world around us. But take a step back, look up, and you will always find there is more. Whether it be a market you haven’t reached yet, a place you haven’t discovered, or a friend you are yet to make, there are thousands of gifts just waiting for us. To us, this quote exudes positivity and celebrates life. We have it pinned on our walls as a reminder to keep looking up.
“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”
This quote really appealed to the entrepreneur in us. Life is constantly changing, and so is business. As founders of companies we must continually adapt. Has the market changed, and you need to amend your strategy? Has the financial climate meant there are fewer customers, meaning you need to reassess your outgoings? Has a new technology been developed that you want to integrate into your business, but in doing so, have to change your structure a little? It is important to always consider change, and we love this Hawking quote because it reminds us that we must adapt in order to survive. In the face of ALS, Hawking did more than just that. He thrived.
“My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all.”
We chose this quote because as you’ll know, we are fascinated by ‘the big why’. Hawking’s was to find a theory which explained everything in the universe, and it drove his life’s work. He made huge progress, uniting quantum mechanics – the science of the small – with general relativity – the science of the big. This drove him to discover that black holes actually radiate matter, contrary to his previous findings. He also simplified complex theories so that millions could get a better understanding of the universe. Books such as A Brief History of Time inspired many to learn more about science, and adopt his ‘big why’ as their own.
It feels fitting to end with a quote, which we feel perfectly sums him up and the incredible, beautiful, inspiring legacy he has left behind.
“I hope basic science becomes part of general awareness. What now appears as a paradox of quantum theory will seem as just common sense to our children’s children.”
Now that’s a ‘big why’ we can get on board with. We thank and salute you, Stephen Hawking.
Until next week!
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