“I am just a child who has never grown up. I still keep asking these ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions. Occasionally, I find an answer.”
- January 8, 1942 – March 14, 2018
- British
- Theoretical physicist, science writer
- Announced the black hole singularity theorem and Hawking radiation, and contributed to the popularization of science with his book “Talking about the Universe”
Quote
“I am just a child who has never grown up. I still keep asking these ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions. Occasionally, I find an answer.”
Explanation
This quote reveals a deeply curious and playful side of Stephen Hawking, who, despite being one of the most renowned physicists of his time, maintained a childlike wonder and relentless pursuit of knowledge throughout his life. By describing himself as a child, Hawking emphasizes that curiosity—the drive to ask fundamental questions about the world, like “how” and “why”—is at the heart of scientific inquiry. This outlook is essential to the process of discovery, as it is the basic questions that lead to deeper understanding and often radical insights about the universe.
Hawking’s statement also suggests that, no matter how much one learns or achieves, there is always more to discover. Science is a continuous process of questioning, and even the greatest minds never stop asking questions, often returning to the same fundamental concepts with new perspectives. In fact, this mindset of asking “how” and “why” questions, and sometimes being satisfied with partial answers, is a hallmark of scientific humility—the understanding that no answer is ever complete, and there is always more to learn.
Hawking’s analogy of remaining a child is also a reminder of the importance of humility and wonder in science. It is easy to imagine that successful scientists, as they grow in knowledge, become more certain of their understanding. However, Hawking’s statement shows that even someone of his stature never lost the inquisitive nature that he had as a child. This attitude is key to the scientific method, where each answer only leads to more questions, and the search for knowledge becomes a lifelong adventure.
