I put a lot of effort into writing 'A Briefer History' at a time when I was critically ill with pneumonia because I think that it's important for scientists to explain their work, particularly in cosmology. This now answers many questions once asked of religion.

Stephen Hawking

So remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and hold on to that childlike wonder about what makes the universe exist.

Stephen Hawking

giving-up stars feet

The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people.

Stephen Hawking

smart crazy people

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.

Stephen Hawking

stars love life

Quiet people have the loudest minds.

Stephen Hawking

quiet-people fearless mind

So next time someone complains that you have made a mistake, tell him that may be a good thing. Because without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.

Stephen Hawking

imperfection mistake may

It is my view that the simplest explanation is there is no God. No one created the universe and no one directs our fate. This leads me to a profound realization. There is probably no heaven, and no afterlife either. We have this one life to appreciate the grand design of the universe, and for that, I am extremely grateful.

Stephen Hawking

atheist motivational believe

The more you learn, the more you know. The more you know, the more you forget. The more you forget, the less you know. So why bother to learn.

Stephen Hawking

logical bother forget

The human race is just a chemical scum on a moderate-sized planet, orbiting around a very average star in the outer suburb of one among a hundred billion galaxies. We are so insignificant that I can't believe the whole universe exists for our benefit. That would be like saying that you would disappear if I closed my eyes.

Stephen Hawking

stars eye believe

Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.

Stephen Hawking

motivational inspirational life

It is all right to make mistakes; nothing is perfect because with perfection, we would not exist.

Stephen Hawking

perfection perfect mistake

I don't fear God- I fear His believers.

Stephen Hawking

fear-god believer

Success is a relative term. It brings so many relatives.

Stephen Hawking

relative logical term

It is very important for young people keep their sense of wonder and keep asking why.

Stephen Hawking

asking-why important people

What I have learned from life is to make the most of what you have got.

Stephen Hawking

i-have-learned life-is life

The fact that no one understands you doesn't mean you're an artist.

Stephen Hawking

stupid-people artist mean

I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road.

Stephen Hawking

change philosophy life

Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.

Stephen Hawking

aliens purpose giving

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.

Stephen Hawking

cheer-up stars humility

People who boast about their I.Q. are losers.

Stephen Hawking

education science people

I am just a child who has never grown up. I still keep asking these 'how' and 'why' questions. Occasionally, I find an answer.

Stephen Hawking

asking answers children