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
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A Brief History of Time

by

Stephen Hawking
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Lay People Character Analysis

Stephen Hawking often refers to the importance of helping the lay person understand great scientific theories, as all of humanity is absorbed with the same line of questioning: why and how are we here? He suggests that once all scientific laws are understood, they will sooner or later also be taught to and understood by everyone, and then we can have the real discussions about the meaning of life. Once that question is answered, he suggests, humanity will “know the mind of God.”

Lay People Quotes in A Brief History of Time

The A Brief History of Time quotes below are all either spoken by Lay People or refer to Lay People . 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

The Greeks even had a third argument that the earth must be round, for why else does one first see the sails of a ship coming over the horizon, and only later see the hull?

Related Characters: Lay People , Aristotle
Human Curiosity and Ingenuity Theme Icon
Page Number: 2
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12 Quotes

[…] if we do discover a complete theory […] Then we shall all […] be able to [discuss] why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would know the mind of God.

Related Characters: God , Lay People
The Search for a Unifying Theory of the Universe Theme Icon
Human Curiosity and Ingenuity Theme Icon
Science and Religion Theme Icon
Page Number: 191
Explanation and Analysis:
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A Brief History of Time PDF

Lay People Quotes in A Brief History of Time

The A Brief History of Time quotes below are all either spoken by Lay People or refer to Lay People . 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

The Greeks even had a third argument that the earth must be round, for why else does one first see the sails of a ship coming over the horizon, and only later see the hull?

Related Characters: Lay People , Aristotle
Human Curiosity and Ingenuity Theme Icon
Page Number: 2
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 12 Quotes

[…] if we do discover a complete theory […] Then we shall all […] be able to [discuss] why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason—for then we would know the mind of God.

Related Characters: God , Lay People
The Search for a Unifying Theory of the Universe Theme Icon
Human Curiosity and Ingenuity Theme Icon
Science and Religion Theme Icon
Page Number: 191
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+
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