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.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hawking says humans are biologically ordinary but special because we can understand the universe.
- In plain terms
- We are ordinary monkeys, but we understand the universe.
- What can you take from it?
- Understanding the universe makes humanity special.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes us special?
- Do we understand anything fully?
Another view
It implies intelligence is the only measure of value.
More from Stephen Hawking
What I have done is to show that it is possible for the way the universe began to be determined by the laws of science. In that case, it would not be necessary…
Permalink to quote #3 For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination. We learned to talk and we lea…
Permalink to quote #5 There ought to be something very special about the boundary conditions of the universe and what can be more special than that there is no boundary?
Permalink to quote #2
Related quotes
The human race, whose intelligence dates back only a single tick of the astronomical clock, could hardly hope to understand so soon what it all means.
James JeansJames Jeans quote #2 In some sense man is a microcosm of the universe; therefore what man is, is a clue to the universe. We are enfolded in the universe.
David BohmDavid Bohm quote #22 The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.
Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein quote #32