Can you hear me?
It has been a glorious time to be alive, and doing research in theoretical physics. Our picture of the universe has changed a great deal in the last 50 years, and I’m happy if I have made a small contribution. The fact that we humans, who are ourselves mere collections of fundamental particles of nature, have been able to come as close to an understanding of the laws governing us and our universe, is a great triumph. I want to share my excitement and enthusiasm about this quest.
So 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.
Thank you for listening.
— Stephen Hawking (1942-2018)