A Brief History of Time
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12
Themes
All Themes The Search for a Unifying Theory of the Universe Human Curiosity and Ingenuity The Danger of Stubbornness Science and Religion
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Stephen Hawking Sir Isaac Newton Albert Einstein Galileo Galilei Edwin Hubble God Lay People Nicolas Copernicus Werner Heisenberg Alexander Friedmann Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson Roger Penrose Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar Jacob Bekenstein Marquis de Laplace Sir Arthur Eddington Aristotle
Terms
All Terms Absolute space/time Anthropic principle Anti-particle Arrows of time Atom Big bang Black hole Chandrasekhar limit Cosmological constant Electromagnetic force Electron Entropy Ether Event horizon Friedmann model Graviton Gravity Imaginary numbers/time Neutron Neutron stars Newton’s laws of motion Pauli exclusion principle Photon Proton Quantum Quantum mechanics Quark Quasars Red shift Singularity Space-time Spin String theory Strong nuclear force Sum over histories Symmetry Theories of Relativity Uncertainty principle Unified theory of physics Virtual particle Wavelength Weak nuclear force Wormhole
Symbols
All Symbols Nobel Prize
Upgrade to LitCharts A+
Instant downloads of all 1916 LitChart PDFs (including A Brief History of Time).
LitCharts Teacher Editions. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does.
Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts.
The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of every Shakespeare play.
Literature
Guides Poetry
Guides Literary
Terms Shakespeare
Translations
Ask
LitCharts AI
Ask
AI
Literature
Lit
Poetry
Lit Terms
Terms
Shakescleare Ask AI

A Brief History of Time

by

Stephen Hawking
Download this LitChart! (PDF)
Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on A Brief History of Time makes teaching easy.

Edwin Hubble Character Analysis

In 1924, American astronomer Hubble showed that our galaxy is not the only one. He calculated the distances between numerous galaxies, and in the process discovered the red shift—meaning light from distant galaxies was on the red end of the light spectrum, and as such must be moving away from us. In 1929 Hubble changed everyone’s understanding of the universe for good by revealing that the universe is expanding, and therefore that it could have all started off in one place—thus creating the idea of the big bang. This meant Einstein’s idea of a cosmological constant, or a kind of anti-gravity force, was inaccurate.

Edwin Hubble Quotes in A Brief History of Time

The A Brief History of Time quotes below are all either spoken by Edwin Hubble or refer to Edwin Hubble. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Search for a Unifying Theory of the Universe Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

It is an interesting reflection on the general climate of thought before the twentieth century that no one had suggested that the universe was expanding or contracting. [...] this may have been due to people’s tendency to believe in eternal truths, as well as the comfort they found in the thought that even though they may grow old and die, the universe is eternal and unchanging.

Related Characters: Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble
Human Curiosity and Ingenuity Theme Icon
The Danger of Stubbornness Theme Icon
Science and Religion Theme Icon
Page Number: 6
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire A Brief History of Time LitChart as a printable PDF.
Download
A Brief History of Time PDF

Edwin Hubble Quotes in A Brief History of Time

The A Brief History of Time quotes below are all either spoken by Edwin Hubble or refer to Edwin Hubble. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Search for a Unifying Theory of the Universe Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

It is an interesting reflection on the general climate of thought before the twentieth century that no one had suggested that the universe was expanding or contracting. [...] this may have been due to people’s tendency to believe in eternal truths, as well as the comfort they found in the thought that even though they may grow old and die, the universe is eternal and unchanging.

Related Characters: Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Edwin Hubble
Human Curiosity and Ingenuity Theme Icon
The Danger of Stubbornness Theme Icon
Science and Religion Theme Icon
Page Number: 6
Explanation and Analysis:
Home About Contact Help
Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request
The LitCharts.com logo.
Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account
You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to request a guide
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.
You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to access notes and highlights
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account
Easily access your saved guides anytime.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to save guides
Already have an account? Sign in