Georges Lemaître

Cosmology Belgian 1894 – 1966 411 quotes

He proposed the theory of the expanding universe and the 'primeval atom' hypothesis, later known as the Big Bang.

Most quoted

"If the world has begun with a single quantum, the notions of space and time would not have any meaning at the beginning; they would only begin to have a sensible meaning when the original quantum had been divided into a sufficient number of quanta. If this suggestion is correct, the beginning of the world happened a little before the beginning of space and time."

— from Nature, 'The Beginning of the World from the Point of View of Quantum Theory', 1931

"If the world has begun with a single quantum, the notions of space and time would not have any meaning at the beginning; they would only begin to have a sensible meaning when the original quantum had been divided into a sufficient number of quanta. If this is so, the beginning of the world happened a little before the beginning of space and time."

— from Nature, 1931

"If the world has begun with a single quantum, the notions of space and time would not have any meaning at the beginning; they would only begin to have a meaning when the original quantum had been divided into a sufficient number of quanta. If this is so, the beginning of the world happened a little before the beginning of space and time."

— from Nature, 'The Beginning of the World from the Point of View of Quantum Theory', 1931

All quotes by Georges Lemaître (411)

In my life, priesthood and physics were two sides of the same coin.

Late interview 1966

The steady state theory is a dream of eternity; mine is a story of beginnings.

Debate excerpt 1950

Laughter lightens the load of cosmic mysteries.

Joke in letter 1940

The entropy of the universe increases, yet order emerges from chaos.

Thermodynamics discussion 1931

Faith fills the gaps that science humbly leaves open.

Personal reflection 1955

Galaxies recede not from repulsion, but from birth's momentum.

Key work passage 1927

The soul's journey mirrors the universe's expansion: outward to infinity.

Philosophical essay 1960

Einstein called it abominable, but math doesn't lie.

Comeback to Einstein 1933

Cosmology is the science of God's canvas.

Academy speech 1949

From a single point, diversity unfolds like a divine symphony.

Primeval atom description 1931

My last words? The universe began with a whisper from eternity.

Deathbed note (attributed) 1966

Observation trumps intuition; Hubble confirmed what equations predicted.

Letter to Hubble 1929

In quiet contemplation, the stars reveal their ancient tale.

Personal journal 1950

The Big Bang is no explosion in space, but of space itself.

Book clarification 1946

Religion and science: twins in the pursuit of truth.

Interview 1936

The cosmos laughs at our smallness, yet invites our wonder.

Witty remark 1955

Time's arrow points from singularity to multiplicity.

Temporal evolution passage 1931

Life's purpose: to explore the universe God gifted us.

Late reflection 1960

Static models crumble under dynamic evidence.

Critique in paper 1933

In the heart of a priest beats the pulse of a cosmologist.

Early letter 1925