Stephen Hawking died today at the age of 76.

Apart from being one of the most influential scientists of the modern age, Hawking was a professor of mathematics at the University of Cambridge, the author of the international bestseller A Brief History of Time, and a quote machine with a great sense of humour:

Here are five Stephen Hawking quotes that will change your theories on work.

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.”

Let’s face it, adulting is hard, especially if you’re unhappy with your career. What Hawking said, however, is dead-on. No matter how bleak the job market may seem, you can always find a profession or field that suits your background and interests. Be open-minded and honest with yourself, and don’t let the job search process get you down.

“People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.”

Remember that co-worker who complained about everything and everyone? How about that one aggressive driver that cut you off and flipped you the bird? Yeah, you don’t want to be like these people, especially in the workplace. That kind of negative attitude can be poisonous, and it won’t do you any favours when it comes to support (and future references) from co-workers.

Take it from Hawking. He was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 21. Someone in that scenario, at that age, had a reason to be angry and bitter, but he wasn’t.

“Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge.”

If one of the world’s most renowned scientst says you need to keep learning, you should probably listen. After all, some of the world’s most successful people are relentless learners. Bill Gates, for example, reads 50 books a year. You might not be able to do that much reading, but you can seek out ways to improve your performance on the job (and marketability during the job search). From coding bootcamps to online courses, there’s always something you can do to gain more knowledge and beef up your resume.

“Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.”

Knowledge may be power, but it’s wasted if you’re not able to adapt to changes in your industry and the job market. This is very timely, with developments in robotics and AI threatening a number of jobs across the country. As Hawking suggests, though, intelligence is in being able to see the changes coming, and preparing so that you can adapt.

“Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.”

Hawking wasn’t just spouting off empty self-help encouragement here; his life was an example of work providing meaning and purpose, despite real obstacles.

Your job doesn’t have to be your whole life, but shouldn’t it have some meaning for you? After all, if you have to put up with aggressive drivers and complaining co-workers, it better be for a good reason.