We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet.
Stephen HawkingRead
There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that belief in an afterlife is a comforting fairy tale for those who fear death and the unknown.
Stephen Hawking's quote challenges the notion of an afterlife or heaven, particularly for beings like computers, which are devoid of consciousness and emotions. In this context, Hawking implies that the idea of an afterlife is not rooted in reality but rather serves as a psychological comfort for humans who dread the finality of death and the darkness that might follow, encouraging a more rational and scientific understanding of existence.
Themes
AfterlifeFearRealityDeathUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on the existence of the afterlife, one might use this quote to argue that fear of the unknown drives such beliefs.
More from Stephen Hawking
All quotes βI regard the brain as a computer which will stop working when its components fail. There is no heaven or afterlife for broken down computers; that is a fairy story for people afraid of the dark.
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In my opinion, there is no aspect of reality beyond the reach of the human mind.
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