Concept of time Quote by Stephen Hawking
““As we shall see, the concept of time has no meaning before the beginning of the universe. This was first pointed out by St. Augustine. When asked: "What did God do before he created the universe?" Augustine didn't reply: "He was preparing Hell for people who asked such questions.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: 2005 talk at Cambridge University
Time is meaningless before the universe began; questions about God's actions before creation are unanswerable
In simple terms: Before the universe, time doesn't exist, making such questions moot
Key Takeaway
Accept limits of knowledge about origins
Themes
time
universe
theology
Mood
inquisitive
contemplative
Type
scientific
philosophical
When to use this quote
- scientific inquiry
- theological debate
- existential contemplation
- historical context
Key Concepts
Cosmology
philosophy of religion
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this suggest about human curiosity?
- How should we approach unknowable questions?
A Different Perspective
Speculation may distract from empirical study
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