Alan Guth famous quotes

The Big Bang theory says nothing about what banged, why it banged, or what happened before it banged.
-- Alan Guth

#Bangs #Bigs #Theory

The recent developments in cosmology strongly suggest that the universe may be the ultimate free lunch.
-- Alan Guth

#Lunch #Development #May

Despite its name, the big bang theory is not really a theory of a bang at all. It is really only a theory of the aftermath of a bang.
-- Alan Guth

#Names #Bangs #Aftermath

It’s hard to build models of inflation that don't lead to a multiverse. It’s not impossible, so I think there’s still certainly research that needs to be done. But most models of inflation do lead to a multiverse, and evidence for inflation will be pushing us in the direction of taking [the idea of a] multiverse seriously.
-- Alan Guth

#Thinking #Ideas #Needs

It's actually safe to create a universe in your basement.
-- Alan Guth

#Safe #Basements #Universe

Space is certainly something more complicated than the average person would probably realize. Space is not just an empty background in which things happen.
-- Alan Guth

#Average #Space #Realizing

In the context of general relativity, space almost is a substance. It can bend and twist and stretch, and probably the best way to think about space is to just kind of imagine a big piece of rubber that you can pull and twist and bend.
-- Alan Guth

#Thinking #Space #Twists

It’s hard to build models of inflation that don't lead to a multiverse. It’s not impossible, so I think there’s still certainly research that needs to be done. But most models of inflation do lead to a multiverse, and evidence for inflation will be pushing us in the direction of taking [the idea of a] multiverse seriously.
-- Alan Guth

#Thinking #Ideas #Pushing

Despite its name, the big bang theory is not really a theory of a bang at all. It is really only a theory of the aftermath of a bang.

The Big Bang is our modern scientific creation myth. It comes from the same human need to solve the cosmological riddle [Where did the universe come from?]

It was better to be in a jail where you could bang the walls than in a jail you could not see.

I will not do festivals. The thought of an audience that big frightens the life out of me.

I'm a big proponent of having a mental health component go along with whatever the physical realities are.

I don't like writing essays or theory.

Since the mathematicians have invaded the theory of relativity I do not understand it myself any more.

Classical thermodynamics ... is the only physical theory of universal content which I am convinced ... will never be overthrown.

When forced to summarize the general theory of relativity in one sentence: Time and space and gravitation have no separate existence from matter.

You know it's very hard to maintain a theory in the face of life that comes crashing about you.