As many of you prepare to take the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, I want to wish you, the next generation of scientific minds, success in your academic endeavors. This culmination of your hard work marks just the beginning of your very bright futures.
Growing up, my parents placed a high value on education and I am grateful for the limitless opportunities provided by my studies. Whether you aim to be a doctor, teacher, scientist, musician, engineer, or a writer — be fearless in the pursuit of your aspirations. You are the next generation of big thinkers and thought leaders that will shape the future for generations to come. - SH
在我成長的過程中，我的父母一直很重視教育。我很慶幸這一路來學習給我?guī)淼脽o數(shù)的機會。無論你勵志成為一名醫(yī)生、老師、科學家、音樂人、工程師或是作家 —— 請勇往直前地追逐你的夢想。你們是下一代的大思想家和意見領袖；未來將因你們而生。- SH
Thank you for all of your fascinating comments and questions! I appreciate the opportunity to correspond with my friends on Weibo.
謝謝你們大家留下的出彩的評論和問題！我很感激通過這樣的機會和微博上的朋友們交流。
A question from the comments:
評論里的一個問題：
"There is a story about an ancient Chinese philosopher, Zhuangzi. Zhuangzi dreamt of becoming a butterfly. And he wondered if he was a man who dreamt of being a butterfly or a butterfly that dreamt of being a man. Prof. Hawking, how do we know if we are living in our dreams or reality?”
Thank you for your question! Zhuangzi dreamt of being a butterfly - perhaps because he was a man who loved freedom. I might dream of the universe and then wonder if the universe dreamt of me. To answer your question how do we know if we are living in our dreams or reality - well, we just don't and perhaps can't! At least not until we start to understand more about consciousness and the universe. We must keep striving for an understanding of the fundamental questions of existence. And then perhaps we will know whether the butterfly - and the universe - are real or just in our dreams.? -SH
I wouldn’t compare it to sex, but it lasts longer.
我不想把它和性愛相比，不過它的持久性更長一些。
關于殘疾：
If you are disabled, it is probably not your fault, but it is no good blaming the world or expecting it to take pity on you. One has to have a positive attitude and must make the best of the situation that one finds oneself in; if one is physically disabled, one cannot afford to be psychologically disabled as well.
