Disease Quote by Stephen Hawking
“Thirty years ago I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, and given two and a half years to live. I have always wondered how they could be so precise about the half.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture, 2011, Cambridge University
Facing a terminal diagnosis, the speaker reflects on the unsettling precision of medical prognoses and the emotional impact of confronting limited time.
In simple terms: Medical predictions can feel oddly exact, causing distress.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and focus on meaningful actions.
Themes
mortality
medicine
psychology
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
personal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- patient counseling
- caregiver support
- end‑of‑life planning
Key Concepts
prognosis
existential anxiety
resilience
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you cope with uncertain futures?
- What role does hope play in confronting prognosis?
A Different Perspective
Predictions are probabilistic, not certain.
![“I do remember that when we left [Bernard Leach] after two and a half years, we went home on a boat again - this was before air travel became really easy - and Alix [MacKenzie] turned to me and she said, "You know, that was a great two years of training, but that's not the way we're going to run…” quote by Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/566/warren-mackenzie-4654_air_i-do-remember-that-when-we-left-bernard_1214561.jpg)
![“From beginning to end, the novel [Dissemblers] took about three and a half years to write. I didn't write it chronologically.” quote by Liza Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/21e/liza-campbell-17930_books_from-beginning-to-end-the-novel-dissembl_3159606.jpg)
![“It was a wonderful opportunity. And so for two and a half years we lived with [Bernard] Leach.” quote by Warren MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cf3/warren-mackenzie-4654_half_it-was-a-wonderful-opportunity-and-so-fo_230701.jpg)
![“[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)
