Aliens Quote by Stephen Hawking
“The "Powers That Be" are not smart enough to engineer Armageddon, but they may yet be stupid enough. If governments are involved in covering up the knowledge of aliens, then they are doing a much better job of it than they seem to do at anything else.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: BBC Radio, 2010
Powerful entities may lack the intelligence to cause catastrophe, yet their negligence can still lead to disaster.
In simple terms: Even smart groups can be careless.
Key Takeaway
Beware of complacency in authority.
Themes
power
responsibility
risk
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
philosophical
warning
When to use this quote
- policy making
- scientific research
- public safety
Key Concepts
systems failure
human error
Questions to Reflect On
- What checks can prevent negligent decisions?
- How do we hold powerful groups accountable?
A Different Perspective
Assuming competence without oversight can be dangerous.
![“[On President Bush's plan to get to Mars in 10 years] Stupid. Robots would do a better job and be much cheaper because you don't have to bring them back.” quote by Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4f9/stephen-hawking-389_better-job_on-president-bush-s-plan-to-get-to-mars_42167.jpg)
