“I grew up thinking that a research scientist was a natural thing to be.”
- 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 grew up thinking that a research scientist was a natural thing to be.”
Explanation
In this quote, Stephen Hawking reflects on his early mindset and how his upbringing influenced his career choices. Growing up in a family where science and research were valued—his father was a research scientist in tropical medicine—Hawking’s view of becoming a scientist seemed almost inevitable. This quote speaks to the environmental influence on career choices, showing that a child’s perception of possibility can be shaped by the people around them and the values they inherit. For Hawking, science wasn’t an abstract goal or something to aspire to later in life—it was simply the natural path to follow, given his family’s background.
This perspective also suggests how early exposure to certain fields can set the course for a person’s future. For someone like Hawking, whose father was already deeply involved in science, it wasn’t a matter of deciding whether to pursue science, but rather a question of what area of science to focus on. This kind of early familiarity with research likely contributed to his confidence in pursuing a career in physics. His path, then, wasn’t one of discovery in the traditional sense, but rather a continuation of what was already embedded in his family’s culture and intellectual environment.
The quote also hints at the idea of destiny or natural inclination, suggesting that certain professions or interests may feel more like an extension of one’s self rather than a conscious choice. Hawking’s ease in choosing science as his profession may have been influenced by a subconscious belief that his family’s legacy and his own intellectual curiosities were aligned, guiding him to his eventual achievements in theoretical physics.
