On March 14th, the world lost Stephen Hawking, a theoretical physicist who was widely regarded as one of the most brilliant minds of our era. His countless discoveries, including his influential work on black holes, has changed the way we think about our place in the universe.

But, unprecedented scientific discoveries aside, what we will miss most about Hawking was his unique sense of humor.

Didn’t think we would be going there, did you?

Well, WE ARE, because, believe it or not, Stephen Hawking actually had quite a unique brand of comedic skills. What we loved about his hilarious perspective, is that he was always somehow able to infuse a sense of hope and humor even into the bleakest of scenarios—like getting sucked into a black hole.

In his seminal 2008 lecture entitled “Into a Black Hole,” he gave some advice to those who might find themselves falling into one.

“Black holes ain’t as black as they are painted. They are not the eternal prisons they were once thought. Things can get out of a black hole, both to the outside, and possibly, to another universe. So, if you feel you are in a black hole, don’t give up. There’s a way out.”

It’s not often that we feel compelled to, all at once, laugh, cry, and squeal with glee, but this quote just made us do it. There’s nothing quite like hearing the words of a deceased physicist to make you feel alive!

Hawking even had a way of “putting it all into perspective” when it came to finances. Here’s what the physicist had to say about making investments, in his 1996 lecture, “The Beginning of Time”:

“When I gave a lecture in Japan, I was asked not to mention the possible re-collapse of the universe, because it might affect the stock market. However, I can reassure anyone who is nervous about their investments that it is a bit early to sell: even if the universe does come to an end, it won’t be for at least twenty billion years.”

Phew. That’s a relief!

To the younger generation who may have not yet read his modern masterpiece, A Brief History of Time, Hawking was the unforgettable guest star on television shows such as The Simpsons, Futurama, The Big Bang Theory, and, most recently, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

On John Oliver’s show, Hawking delivered an off-the-cuff zinger that left the HBO host speechless. Just check out this salty exchange…

John Oliver: “You’ve stated that you believe that there could be an infinite number of parallel universes, does that mean that there is a universe out there where I am smarter than you?”

Stephen Hawking: “Yes, and also a universe where you’re funny.”

Yep, the beloved physicist could dish it as well as he could take it! It goes without saying that Hawking will be missed both for his humor and, of course, his many groundbreaking contributions to the scientific community.

Now for what you have all been waiting for—to see the famed physicist show off his comedic chops, be sure to take a peep at the video below. He truly was one-of-a-kind!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the late, great Stephen Hawking. How were you first introduced to the physicist? What is your favorite quote of his? Did you know that he was such an adept comedian?

Sources:
Hawking.org
Vox
Forbes