Maximum-assistance view: every word above everyday vocabulary is explained at every appearance; each name is introduced at its first appearance in the chapter.

I.

Introduction

The Time Traveller (for so it will be convenient to speak of him) (The Time Traveller, since that is the most convenient way to speak of him) was expounding a recondite matter to us (was laying out a deep, out-of-the-way matter for us). His grey eyes shone and twinkled, and his usually pale face was flushed and animated (His grey eyes shone with small bright points, and his usually pale face was red and full of life). The fire burnt brightly, and the soft radiance of the incandescent lights in the lilies of silver (and the soft glow of the white-hot electric lamps in their silver flower-shaped holders) caught the bubbles that flashed and passed in our glasses (caught the bubbles that flashed and went by in our glasses). Our chairs, being his patents, embraced and caressed us rather than submitted to be sat upon (Our chairs, being of his own invention, held and stroked us rather than merely put up with being sat on), and there was that luxurious after-dinner atmosphere (and there was that rich, easy feeling in the air after a good evening meal), when thought runs gracefully free of the trammels of precision (when thinking runs along easily, free of the harness of being exact). And he put it to us in this way—marking the points with a lean forefinger (marking off each point with a thin first finger)—as we sat and lazily admired his earnestness over this new paradox (as we thought it) and his fecundity (as we sat and idly admired how much in earnest he was over this fresh piece of self-contradicting nonsense, as we took it, and how endlessly ideas poured out of him).

“You must follow me carefully. (“You must follow me closely.) I shall have to controvert one or two ideas that are almost universally accepted (One or two ideas that nearly everybody accepts will have to be argued against). The geometry, for instance, they taught you at school is founded on a misconception (The study of shapes and space they taught you at school, for one, rests on a wrong idea).”

“Is not that rather a large thing to expect us to begin upon?” (“Is that not rather a big thing to start us off with?”) said Filby, an argumentative person with red hair (said Filby, a red-haired man always ready to disagree).

“I do not mean to ask you to accept anything without reasonable ground for it. (“There is no asking you to take anything without fair ground for it.) You will soon admit as much as I need from you (You will soon grant me as much as I need). You know of course that a mathematical line, a line of thickness nil, has no real existence (You know, of course, that a line as the numbers people mean it, a line with no thickness at all, does not really exist). They taught you that? Neither has a mathematical plane (Nor does a flat surface as they mean it). These things are mere abstractions (These things are only ideas drawn out of the mind).”

“That is all right,” said the Psychologist (said the Psychologist, the man who studies the mind).

“Nor, having only length, breadth, and thickness, can a cube have a real existence.” (“Nor can a square-sided block really exist, if all it has is length, width and thickness.”)

“There I object,” said Filby. “Of course a solid body may exist. (“There I say no,” said Filby. “Of course a solid thing can exist.) All real things—”

“So most people think. But wait a moment. Can an instantaneous cube exist? (But wait a moment. Can a block that lasts no time at all exist?)”

“Don’t follow you,” said Filby.

“Can a cube that does not last for any time at all, have a real existence?” (“Can a block that goes on for no length of time at all truly exist?”)

Filby became pensive (Filby fell into thought). “Clearly,” the Time Traveller proceeded, “any real body must have extension in four directions (any real thing must reach out in four directions): it must have Length, Breadth, Thickness, and—Duration (it must have length, width, thickness, and how long it lasts). But through a natural infirmity of the flesh, which I will explain to you in a moment, we incline to overlook this fact (But through a weakness born in the body, which will be explained in a moment, we tend to miss this). There are really four dimensions, three which we call the three planes of Space, and a fourth, Time (three that we call the three flat directions of Space, and a fourth, Time). There is, however, a tendency to draw an unreal distinction between the former three dimensions and the latter (There is a habit, though, of making a difference that is not truly there between those first three and the last), because it happens that our consciousness moves intermittently in one direction along the latter (because our awareness happens to move along the last one in one direction, in fits and starts) from the beginning to the end of our lives.”

“That,” said a very young man, making spasmodic efforts to relight his cigar over the lamp (making jerky attempts to get his rolled tobacco burning again over the lamp); “that . . . very clear indeed.”

“Now, it is very remarkable that this is so extensively overlooked,” (“Now it is most striking that this should be so widely missed,”) continued the Time Traveller, with a slight accession of cheerfulness (the Time Traveller went on, growing a little more cheerful). “Really this is what is meant by the Fourth Dimension (This is truly what people mean by the Fourth Dimension), though some people who talk about the Fourth Dimension do not know they mean it (though some people who speak of the Fourth Dimension do not know that this is their meaning). It is only another way of looking at Time (It is only another way of looking at Time). There is no difference between Time and any of the three dimensions of Space except that our consciousness moves along it (There is no difference between Time and any of the three directions of Space, except that our awareness moves along it). But some foolish people have got hold of the wrong side of that idea (But some foolish people have taken hold of the wrong end of that idea). You have all heard what they have to say about this Fourth Dimension? (You have all heard what they have to say about this Fourth Dimension?)”

“I have not,” said the Provincial Mayor (said the Provincial Mayor, the head of a country town's council).

“It is simply this. That Space, as our mathematicians have it, is spoken of as having three dimensions (That Space, as the numbers people have it, is said to have three directions of reach), which one may call Length, Breadth, and Thickness, and is always definable by reference to three planes, each at right angles to the others (and can always be pinned down by three flat directions, each square to the other two). But some philosophical people have been asking why three dimensions particularly (But some people who think about first questions have been asking why three in particular)—why not another direction at right angles to the other three? (why not a fourth direction, square to the other three?)—and have even tried to construct a Four-Dimensional geometry (and have even tried to build up a study of shapes with four directions of reach). Professor Simon Newcomb was expounding this to the New York Mathematical Society only a month or so ago (Professor Simon Newcomb was setting this out to the New York society of numbers people only a month or so back). You know how on a flat surface, which has only two dimensions, we can represent a figure of a three-dimensional solid (we can show a picture of a solid with three directions of reach), and similarly they think that by models of three dimensions they could represent one of four—if they could master the perspective of the thing (if they could get the trick of drawing the depth of it right). See?”

“I think so,” murmured the Provincial Mayor (“I think so,” said the Provincial Mayor in a low voice); and, knitting his brows, he lapsed into an introspective state (and, drawing his brows together, he sank into a state of looking inward), his lips moving as one who repeats mystic words (his lips moving like a man saying over secret holy words). “Yes, I think I see it now,” he said after some time, brightening in a quite transitory manner (brightening in a way that did not last).

“Well, I do not mind telling you I have been at work upon this geometry of Four Dimensions for some time. (“Well, there is no harm in telling you that this study of shapes in four directions has had my work on it for some time.) Some of my results are curious (Some of what has come of it is odd). For instance, here is a portrait of a man at eight years old, another at fifteen, another at seventeen (here is a painted likeness of a man at eight years old, another at fifteen, another at seventeen), another at twenty-three, and so on. All these are evidently sections, as it were, Three-Dimensional representations of his Four-Dimensioned being (All of these are plainly slices, so to speak: three-direction pictures of a being that has four), which is a fixed and unalterable thing (which is a settled thing that cannot be changed).”

“Scientific people,” proceeded the Time Traveller (“People of science,” the Time Traveller went on), after the pause required for the proper assimilation of this (after the pause needed for that to be taken in properly), “know very well that Time is only a kind of Space (know perfectly well that Time is only a kind of Space). Here is a popular scientific diagram, a weather record (Here is a common scientific drawing: a record of the weather). This line I trace with my finger shows the movement of the barometer (This line my finger follows shows the movement of the air-pressure gauge). Yesterday it was so high, yesterday night it fell, then this morning it rose again (Yesterday it stood so high, in the night it dropped, then this morning it rose again), and so gently upward to here. Surely the mercury did not trace this line in any of the dimensions of Space generally recognised? (Surely the silver liquid did not draw this line in any of the directions of Space people usually allow?) But certainly it traced such a line (But certainly such a line was drawn by it), and that line, therefore, we must conclude, was along the Time-Dimension (and that line, we must therefore decide, ran along the direction of Time).”

“But,” said the Medical Man (“But,” said the Medical Man, the doctor), staring hard at a coal in the fire (said the Medical Man, the doctor of the party, staring hard at a coal in the fire), “if Time is really only a fourth dimension of Space (if Time truly is no more than a fourth direction of Space), why is it, and why has it always been, regarded as something different? (why is it, and why has it always been, taken as something apart?) And why cannot we move about in Time as we move about in the other dimensions of Space? (And why can we not move about in Time as we move about in the other directions of Space?)”

The Time Traveller smiled. “Are you so sure (A smile came over the Time Traveller. “Are you so sure) we can move freely in Space? (“Are you so sure we can move as we like in Space?) Right and left we can go, backward and forward freely enough, and men always have done so (Right and left we can go, and back and forward easily enough, and men always have). I admit we move freely in two dimensions. But how about up and down? (I grant that we move freely in two directions. But what about up and down?) Gravitation limits us there (The pull of the earth holds us in there).”

“Not exactly,” said the Medical Man. “There are balloons.” (“Not quite,” said the Medical Man. “There are gas-filled flying bags.”)

“But before the balloons, save for spasmodic jumping and the inequalities of the surface (apart from jerky jumping and the ups and downs of the ground), man had no freedom of vertical movement (man had no free movement up and down).”

“Still they could move a little up and down,” said the Medical Man.

“Easier, far easier down than up.”

“And you cannot move at all in Time, you cannot get away from the present moment.”

“My dear sir, that is just where you are wrong. That is just where the whole world has gone wrong (That is just where the whole world has gone wrong). We are always getting away from the present moment. Our mental existences, which are immaterial and have no dimensions (Our lives as minds, which are not made of matter and have no reach in space), are passing along the Time-Dimension with a uniform velocity from the cradle to the grave (are moving along the direction of Time at one steady speed from birth to death). Just as we should travel down if we began our existence fifty miles above the earth’s surface (Just as we would travel downward if our lives began fifty miles above the earth).”

“But the great difficulty is this,” interrupted the Psychologist (“But here is the great trouble,” broke in the Psychologist). “You can move about in all directions of Space, but you cannot move about in Time.” (“You can move about in every direction of Space, but you cannot move about in Time.”)

“That is the germ of my great discovery. (“That is the seed of my great finding.) But you are wrong to say that we cannot move about in Time. For instance, if I am recalling an incident very vividly I go back to the instant of its occurrence (For example, if I call up a happening very sharply, I go back to the moment it took place): I become absent-minded, as you say. I jump back for a moment (My mind goes elsewhere, as you would say. I jump back for a moment). Of course we have no means of staying back for any length of Time (Of course we have no way of staying back there for any length of Time), any more than a savage or an animal has of staying six feet above the ground (any more than a wild man or an animal has of staying six feet up in the air). But a civilised man is better off than the savage in this respect (But a man of settled society is better placed than the wild man in this). He can go up against gravitation in a balloon (He can rise against the earth's pull in a flying gas bag), and why should he not hope that ultimately he may be able to stop or accelerate his drift along the Time-Dimension (and why should he not hope that in the end he may be able to halt or speed up his slow slide along Time), or even turn about and travel the other way?”

“Oh, this,” began Filby, “is all—”

“Why not?” said the Time Traveller.

“It’s against reason,” said Filby (“It goes against sense,” said Filby).

“What reason?” said the Time Traveller.

“You can show black is white by argument,” said Filby, “but you will never convince me.” (“You can prove black is white by arguing,” said Filby, “but you will never bring me round.”)

“Possibly not,” said the Time Traveller. “But now you begin to see the object of my investigations into the geometry of Four Dimensions (But now you begin to see the point of my looking into the study of shapes in four directions). Long ago I had a vague inkling of a machine— (Long ago there came to me a dim first hint of a machine—)”

“To travel through Time!” exclaimed the Very Young Man (cried the Very Young Man).

“That shall travel indifferently in any direction of Space and Time, as the driver determines.” (“One that shall travel just as readily in any direction of Space or of Time, as the driver decides.”)

Filby contented himself with laughter (Filby satisfied himself with laughing).

“But I have experimental verification,” (“But I have proof from an actual test,”) said the Time Traveller.

“It would be remarkably convenient for the historian,” (“It would be wonderfully handy for the writer of history,”) the Psychologist suggested. “One might travel back and verify the accepted account of the Battle of Hastings (A man might travel back and check the agreed story of the Battle of Hastings), for instance!”

“Don’t you think you would attract attention?” (“Do you not think you would be noticed?”) said the Medical Man. “Our ancestors had no great tolerance for anachronisms (The people who came before us had little patience with things out of their proper time).”

“One might get one’s Greek from the very lips of Homer and Plato,” (“A man might get his Greek from the very lips of Homer and Plato,”) the Very Young Man thought.

“In which case they would certainly plough you for the Little-go. (“In that case you would certainly be failed in the first university examination.) The German scholars have improved Greek so much (The German men of learning have changed Greek so much for the better).”

“Then there is the future,” said the Very Young Man. “Just think! (“Then there is the time still to come,” said the Very Young Man. “Only think!) One might invest all one’s money, leave it to accumulate at interest, and hurry on ahead! (A man might put all his money out, leave it to pile up by earning on itself, and rush on forward!)”

“To discover a society,” said I, “erected on a strictly communistic basis (built strictly on everything being owned by all together).”

“Of all the wild extravagant theories!” (“Of all the wild, far-fetched ideas!”) began the Psychologist.

“Yes, so it seemed to me, and so I never talked of it until—”

“Experimental verification!” cried I. “You are going to verify that?”

“The experiment!” cried Filby, who was getting brain-weary.

“Let’s see your experiment anyhow,” said the Psychologist, “though it’s all humbug, you know.”

The Time Traveller smiled round at us (The Time Traveller smiled round at us all). Then, still smiling faintly, and with his hands deep in his trousers pockets (Then, still smiling faintly and with his hands deep in his trouser pockets), he walked slowly out of the room, and we heard his slippers shuffling down the long passage to his laboratory (he walked slowly out of the room, and we heard his soft house shoes dragging down the long passage to his workroom).

The Psychologist looked at us. “I wonder what he’s got?”

“Some sleight-of-hand trick or other,” said the Medical Man (“Some quick-fingered trick or other,” said the Medical Man, the doctor), and Filby tried to tell us about a conjuror he had seen at Burslem (and Filby tried to tell us about a magic-trick man he had seen at Burslem, a pottery town in the midlands), but before he had finished his preface the Time Traveller came back, and Filby’s anecdote collapsed (but before he had got through his opening the Time Traveller came back, and Filby's little story fell flat).