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We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet.

Stephen William Hawking

On extraterrestrial life, from interviews and documentaries (2010s) · Gecheckt op 10 juni 2026
We only have to look at ourselves to see how intelligent life might develop into something we wouldn’t want to meet.

Analyse

The quote aligns with Hawking's documented views on the potential risks of encountering advanced extraterrestrial civilizations. He frequently warned that such civilizations might not be benevolent, drawing parallels to human history. The statement appears in his 2010 documentary *Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking* and other interviews.

Achtergrond

Hawking was a vocal advocate for the search for extraterrestrial life but cautioned about the risks of contact. His perspective was shaped by observations of human behavior and the potential for advanced civilizations to exploit less developed ones.

Samenvatting verdict

Stephen Hawking did make this statement about extraterrestrial life in the 2010s.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— Hawking, S. (2010). *Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking* [Documentary]. Discovery Channel.
— Hawking, S. (2016). *Stephen Hawking's Universe* [Interview]. BBC.
— Ferguson, K. (1991). *Stephen Hawking: Quest for a Theory of Everything*. Bantam Books.