Hawking wasn't exactly as bright as we remember him.

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Here is his famous phD script:

https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1810/251038/PR-PHD-05437_CUDL2017-reduced.pdf?sequence=15&isAllowed=y

Prof. Hawking is no doubt, extremely influential in his findings throughout his life. However, even if you look at how he incorrectly spells on numerous occasions, can we really say that he was what we'd call the 'smartest man' on earth? What a meme.

Like most things in science, its creativity that gets us to further horizons. Hawking; more than others.