We can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special.
In plain words
People can actually work out how the universe works. That is remarkable.
Where these words come from
- 85% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- From Hawking's interview with Der Spiegel (17 October 1988); excerpted as the final two complete sentences of a three-sentence quoted passage.
- Der Spiegel interview
- 1988 · published in Germany · Press interview about humanity's place in the cosmos
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ArchimedesOf all lines which have the same extremities the straight line is the least.
ArchimedesThe cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff.
Carl SaganScience is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.
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