It always amazed me someone with so many cards stacked against him could accomplish so much. He has always been one of the few people left in the world I would classify as a true hero. His mind and soul were something you see in so few people. It's not like it held him back personally either. He was able to get married twice and to have children.
The world lost a great person today. And the loss to science is incalculable. Well maybe not for Stephen Hawking, I'm sure he has solved that equation somewhere :)
My favorite quote of his was "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."
Another way to look at this is, The smartest person realizes how little he knows. In these days of narcissism and everyone wanting a pat on the head for the simpliest of accomplishments Stephen was a breathe of fresh air. A very humble person for how much he accomplished. Never one for too many accolades.
Learn to live from this man. Learn to be more modest and humble. And if anything you can realize you are no where as near as smart as you think you are :)
The world is a little less bright now.