I don’t think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space.

In a 2001 newspaper interview, Hawking was discussing long-term existential risks to humanity. He emphasized that biological threats (including engineered pathogens) could be created in small labs and are hard to regulate globally, and he argued that relying on a single planet leaves humanity vulnerable to catastrophic accidents or attacks.

The quote argues that humanity’s survival prospects improve if we become a multi-planet species. Spreading beyond Earth is presented as a risk-management strategy against planet-wide disasters, especially those arising from advanced technology and biology.

I don’t think the human race will survive the next thousand years, unless we spread into space. There are too many accidents that can befall life on a single planet.

I don’t think the human race will survive the next 1,000 years unless we spread into space.