28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote

AlbertEinstein
FromWikiquote

AlbertEinstein(14March187918April1955)wasatheoreticalphysicistwhopublishedthespecialandgeneraltheoriesofrelativityandcontributedinotherareasofphysics.HewontheNobelPrizeinphysicsfor
hisexplanationofthephotoelectriceffect.

Contents
1Quotes
1.11890s
1.21900s
1.31910s
1.41920s
1.51930s
1.61940s
1.71950s
1.8Attributedinposthumouspublications
1.9PrinciplesofResearch(1918) AhundredtimeseverydayIremind
1.10SidelightsonRelativity(1922) myselfthatmyinnerandouterlifeare
1.11Viereckinterview(1929) basedonthelaborsofothermen,
1.12Wisehartinterview(1930?) livinganddead,andthatImustexert
1.13ReligionandScience(1930) myselfinordertogiveinthesame
1.14MeinWeltbild(MyWorldview)(1931) measureasIhavereceivedandam
1.15MyCredo(1932) stillreceiving...
1.16ObituaryforEmmyNoether(1935)
1.17ScienceandReligion(1941)
1.18OnlyThenShallWeFindCourage(1946)
1.19ReligionandScience:Irreconcilable?(1948)
1.20"AutobiographicalNotes"(1949)
1.21TheWorldAsISeeIt(1949)
1.22WhySocialism?(1949)
1.23OntheGeneralizedTheoryofGravitation(1950)
1.24OutofMyLaterYears(1950)
1.25EssaytoLeoBaeck(1953)
1.26AlbertEinstein:TheHumanSide(1979)
1.27AlbertEinstein:Aguidefortheperplexed(1979)
1.28EinsteinandthePoet(1983)
1.29Einstein'sGod(1997)
1.30EinsteinandReligion(1999)
2Disputed
3Misattributed
4QuotesaboutEinstein
Ahappymanistoosatisfiedwiththe
5Externallinks
presenttodwelltoomuchonthe
future.

Quotes
1890s

Unhommeheureuxesttropcontentdelaprsencepourpenserbeaucoupl'avenir.
Ahappymanistoosatisfiedwiththepresenttodwelltoomuchonthefuture.
From"MesProjetsd'Avenir",aFrenchessaywrittenatage17foraschoolexam(18September1896).TheCollectedPapersofAlbertEinsteinVol.1(1987)Doc.22.

1900s

AutorittsduselistdergrteFeindderWahrheit.
Unthinkingrespectforauthorityisthegreatestenemyoftruth.
LettertoJostWinteler(1901),quotedinThePrivateLivesofAlbertEinsteinbyRogerHighfieldandPaulCarter(1993),p.79(http://books.google.com/books?
id=zY7FE9ZyDO0C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA79#v=onepage&q&f=false).EinsteinhadbeenannoyedthatPaulDrude,editorofAnnalenderPhysik,haddismissedoutofhandsomecriticismsEinsteinmadeof
Drude'selectrontheoryofmetals.

LieberHabicht!/EsherrschteinweihevollesStillschweigenzwischenuns,sodaesmirfastwieeinesndigeEntweihungvorkommt,wennichesjetztdurcheinwenigbedeutsamesGepappel
unterbreche.../WasmachenSiedenn,SieeingefrorenerWalfisch,Siegetrocknetes,eingebchstesStckSeele...?
DearHabicht,/SuchasolemnairofsilencehasdescendedbetweenusthatIalmostfeelasifIamcommittingasacrilegewhenIbreakitnowwithsomeinconsequentialbabble.../Whatareyouupto,you
frozenwhale,yousmoked,dried,cannedpieceofsoul...?
OpeningofalettertohisfriendConradHabichtinwhichhedescribeshisfourrevolutionaryAnnusMirabilis"papers.(May1905)

E=mc
Unthinkingrespectforauthorityisthe
Theequivalenceofmassandenergywasoriginallyexpressedbytheequationm=L/c,whicheasilytranslatesintothefarmorewellknownE=mcinDoestheInertiaofaBodyDependUponIts
greatestenemyoftruth.
EnergyContent?(http://www.fourmilab.ch/etexts/einstein/E_mc2/www/)publishedintheAnnalenderPhysik(27September1905):"IfabodygivesofftheenergyLintheformofradiation,itsmass
diminishesbyL/c."
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 1/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
diminishesbyL/c."
Inalaterstatementexplainingtheideasexpressedbythisequation,Einsteinsummarized:"Itfollowedfromthespecialtheoryofrelativitythatmassandenergyarebothbutdifferent
manifestationsofthesamethingasomewhatunfamiliarconceptionfortheaveragemind.Furthermore,theequationE=mc,inwhichenergyisputequaltomass,multipliedbythe
squareofthevelocityoflight,showedthatverysmallamountsofmassmaybeconvertedintoaverylargeamountofenergyandviceversa.Themassandenergywereinfactequivalent,
accordingtotheformulamentionedbefore.ThiswasdemonstratedbyCockcroftandWaltonin1932,experimentally."
AtomicPhysics(1948)bytheJ.ArthurRankOrganisation,Ltd.(mp3audiofileofEinstein'svoice(http://www.aip.org/history/einstein/sound/voice1.mp3))

Themassofabodyisameasureofitsenergycontent.
"IstdieTrgheiteinesKrpersvonseinemEnergieinhaltabhngig?"("Doestheinertiaofabodydependuponitsenergycontent?"),AnnalenderPhysik18,639641(1905).QuotedinConceptsofMass
inClassicalandModernPhysicsbyMaxJammer(1961),p.177(http://books.google.com/books?id=lYvz0_8aGsMC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA177#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Weshallthereforeassumethecompletephysicalequivalenceofagravitationalfieldandacorrespondingaccelerationofthereferencesystem.
StatementoftheequivalenceprincipleinYearbookofRadioactivityandElectronics(1907)
Themassofabodyisameasureof
itsenergycontent.
1910s

DieNaturzeigtunsvomLwenzwarnurdenSchwanz.Aberesistmirunzweifelhaft,dassderLwedazugehrt,wennersichauchwegenseinerungeheurenDimensionendemBlickenicht
unmittelbaroffenbarenkann.WirsehenihnnurwieeineLaus,dieaufihmsitzt.
Natureshowsusonlythetailofthelion.Butthereisnodoubtinmymindthatthelionbelongswithitevenifhecannotrevealhimselftotheeyeallatoncebecauseofhishugedimension.Weseehimonlythe
wayalousesittinguponhimwould.
LettertoHeinrichZangger(10March1914),quotedinTheCuriousHistoryofRelativitybyJeanEisenstaedt(2006),p.126(http://books.google.com/books?
id=d2bnXTOtCD8C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA126#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Variant:"Natureshowsusonlythetailofthelion.ButIdonotdoubtthatthelionbelongstoiteventhoughhecannotatoncerevealhimselfbecauseofhisenormoussize."AsquotedbyAbrahamPaisin
SubtleistheLord:TheScienceandLifeofAlbertEinstein(1982),p.235ISBN0192806726 Natureshowsusonlythetailofthe
lion.Butthereisnodoubtinmymind
ManbegreiftschwerbeimErlebendieser"groenZeit",damandieserverrckten,verkommenenSpeziesangehrt,diesichWillensfreiheitzuschreibt.WennesdochirgendwoeineInselder thatthelionbelongswithitevenifhe
WohlwollendenundBesonnenengbe!DawollteichauchglhenderPatriotsein. cannotrevealhimselftotheeyeallat
Inlivingthroughthis"greatepoch,"itisdifficulttoreconcileoneselftothefactthatonebelongstothatmad,degeneratespeciesthatboastsofitsfreewill.HowIwishthatsomewherethereexistedanisland oncebecauseofhishugedimension.
forthosewhoarewiseandofgoodwill!InsuchaplaceevenIshouldbeanardentpatriot!
LettertoPaulEhrenfest,earlyDecember1914.CollectedPapersofAlbertEinstein,Vol8,Doc.39.QuotedinTheNewQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice(2005),p.3

EsistbequemmitdemEinstein.JedesJahrwiderrufter,waserdasvorigeJahrgeschriebenhat.
It'sconvenientwiththatfellowEinstein,everyyearheretractswhathewrotetheyearbefore.
LettertoPaulEhrenfest,26December1915.CollectedPapersofAlbertEinstein,Vol8,Doc.173.
Howdoesithappenthataproperlyendowednaturalscientistcomestoconcernhimselfwithepistemology?Istherenotsomemorevaluableworktobedoneinhisspecialty?That'swhatIhearmanyofmycolleaguesask,andIsenseitfrom
manymore.ButIcannotsharethissentiment.WhenIthinkabouttheableststudentswhomIhaveencounteredinmyteachingthatis,thosewhodistinguishthemselvesbytheirindependenceofjudgmentandnotjusttheirquickwittednessIcan
affirmthattheyhadavigorousinterestinepistemology.Theyhappilybegandiscussionsaboutthegoalsandmethodsofscience,andtheyshowedunequivocally,throughtenaciousdefenseoftheirviews,thatthesubjectseemedimportanttothem.
Conceptsthathaveprovenusefulinorderingthingseasilyachievesuchauthorityoverusthatweforgettheirearthlyoriginsandacceptthemasunalterablegivens.[Begriffe,welchesichbeiderOrdnungderDingealsntzlich
erwiesenhaben,erlangenberunsleichteinesolcheAutoritt,dasswirihresirdischenUrsprungsvergessenundsiealsunabnderlicheGegebenheitenhinnehmen.]Thustheymightcometobe
stampedas"necessitiesofthought,""apriorigivens,"etc.Thepathofscientificprogressisoftenmadeimpassableforalongtimebysucherrors.[DerWegdeswissenschaftlichenFortschrittswirddurchsolche
IrrtmeroftfrlngereZeitungangbargemacht.]Thereforeitisbynomeansanidlegameifwebecomepracticedinanalysinglongheldcommonplaceconceptsandshowingthecircumstances
onwhichtheirjustificationandusefulnessdepend,andhowtheyhavegrownup,individually,outofthegivensofexperience.Thustheirexcessiveauthoritywillbebroken.Theywillberemovedif
theycannotbeproperlylegitimated,correctediftheircorrelationwithgiventhingsbefartoosuperfluous,orreplacedifanewsystemcanbeestablishedthatwepreferforwhateverreason.
ObituaryforphysicistandphilosopherErnstMach(NachrufaufErnstMach),PhysikalischeZeitschrift17(1916),p.101

UnserganzergepriesenerFortschrittderTechnik,berhauptdieCivilisation,istderAxtinderHanddespathologischenVerbrechersvergleichbar.
Ourentiremuchpraisedtechnologicalprogress,andcivilizationgenerally,couldbecomparedtoanaxeinthehandofapathologicalcriminal.
LettertoHeinrichZangger(1917),asquotedinASenseoftheMysterious:ScienceandtheHumanSpiritbyAlanLightman(2005),p.110(http://books.google.com/books?id=
yo_gVxMs6MC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA110#v=onepage&q&f=false),andinAlbertEinstein:ABiographybyAlbrechtFlsing(1997),p.399(http://books.google.com/books?
id=Kmm0foYfvQAC&q=%22compared+to+an+axe%22#search_anchor)
Sometimesparaphrasedas"Technologicalprogressislikeanaxeinthehandsofapathologicalcriminal."

IchbinderAbstammungnacheinJude,derStaatszugehrigkeitnacheinSchweizerundderGesinnungnacheinMenschundnureinMensch,ohnebesondereNeigungfrirgendeinstaatlichesoder
nationalesGebilde.
IambyheritageaJew,bycitizenshipaSwiss,andbymakeupahumanbeing,andonlyahumanbeing,withoutanyspecialattachmenttoanystateornationalentitywhatsoever. Itisbynomeansanidlegameifwe
becomepracticedinanalyzinglong
LettertoAdolfKneser(7June1918)Doc.560inTheCollectedPapersofAlbertEinsteinVol.8.
heldcommonplaceconceptsand
IchhabeauchmanchenwissenschaftlichenPlanberlegt,whrendichDichimKinderwagenspazierenschob! showingthecircumstancesonwhich
Ihavealsoconsideredmanyscientificplansduringmypushingyouaroundinyourpram! theirjustificationandusefulness
depend...
LettertohissonHansAlbertEinstein(June1918)

Gehrechtvielspazieren,dassDurechtgesundwirstundliesnichtgarzuvielsondernsparDirnochwasaufbisDugrossbist.
Makealotofwalkstogethealthyanddontreadthatmuchbutsaveyourselfsomeuntilyouregrownup.
LettertohissonEduardEinstein(June1918)

LiebeMutter!HeuteeinefreudigeNachricht.H.A.Lorentzhatmirtelegraphiert,dassdieenglischenExpeditionendieLichtablenkunganderSonnewirklichbewiesenhaben.
Dearmother!Todayajoyfulnotice.H.A.LorentzhastelegraphedmethattheEnglishexpeditionshavereallyproventhedeflectionoflightatthesun.
PostcardtohismotherPaulineEinstein(1919)

NocheineArtAnwendungdesRelativittsprinzipszumErgtzendesLesers:HeutewerdeichinDeutschlandals"deutscherGelehrter",inEnglandals"SchweizerJude"bezeichnetsollteichabereinstindieLagekommen,als"bte
noire"prsentiertzuwerden,dannwreichumgekehrtfrdieDeutscheneinSchweizerJude,frdieEnglnderein"deutscherGelehrter".
Byanapplicationofthetheoryofrelativitytothetasteofreaders,todayinGermanyIamcalledaGermanmanofscience,andinEnglandIamrepresentedasaSwissJew.IfIcometoberepresentedasabtenoire,thedescriptionswillbe
reversed,andIshallbecomeaSwissJewfortheGermansandaGermanmanofsciencefortheEnglish!
"EinsteinOnHisTheory(http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/viewArticle.arc?articleId=ARCHIVEThe_Times1919112813011&pageId=ARCHIVEThe_Times1919112813)",TheTimes(London),28November1919,quotedin
HermanBernstein:CelebritiesofOurTime.NewYork1924.p.267(archive.org(http://www.archive.org/details/celebritiesofour000452mbp)).Einstein'soriginalGermantextinTheCollectedPapersofAlbertEinstein.Volume7.Doc.25p.
210,andatgermanhistorydocs.ghidc.org(http://germanhistorydocs.ghidc.org/docpage.cfm?docpage_id=5438&language=german)afterAlbertEinstein,MeinWeltbild.Amsterdam:QueridoVerlag,1934,pp.22028.Manuscriptat
alberteinstein.info(http://alberteinstein.info/vufind1/Digital/EAR000033998#page/7/mode/2up).
Variant:Ifmytheoryofrelativityisprovensuccessful,GermanywillclaimmeasaGermanandFrancewilldeclarethatIamacitizenoftheworld.Shouldmytheoryproveuntrue,FrancewillsaythatIamaGermanandGermanywilldeclarethatI
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 2/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Variant:Ifmytheoryofrelativityisprovensuccessful,GermanywillclaimmeasaGermanandFrancewilldeclarethatIamacitizenoftheworld.Shouldmytheoryproveuntrue,FrancewillsaythatIamaGermanandGermanywilldeclarethatI
amaJew.(AddresstotheFrenchPhilosophicalSocietyattheSorbonne(6April1922)Frenchpressclipping(7April1922)[EinsteinArchive36378]andBerlinerTageblatt(8April1922)[EinsteinArchive79535])
Varianttranslation:Ifmytheoryofrelativityisprovencorrect,GermanywillclaimmeasaGermanandFrancewillsayIamamanoftheworld.Ifit'sprovenwrong,FrancewillsayIamaGermanandGermanywillsayIamaJew.
Variant:IfrelativityisprovedrighttheGermanswillcallmeaGerman,theSwisswillcallmeaSwisscitizen,andtheFrenchwillcallmeagreatscientist.IfrelativityisprovedwrongtheFrenchwillcallmeaSwiss,theSwisswillcallmeaGerman
andtheGermanswillcallmeaJew.

1920s

WieliebichdiesenedlenMann
MehralsichmitWortensagenkann.
Dochfrcht'ich,dasserbleibtallein
MitseinemstrahlendenHeiligenschein.
HowmuchdoIlovethatnobleman
MorethanIcouldtellwithwords
Ifearthoughhe'llremainalone
Withaholyhaloofhisown.
PoembyEinsteinonSpinoza(1920),asquotedinEinsteinandReligionbyMaxJammer,PrincetonUP1999(http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:i
4Gd4RHW3gJ:press.princeton.edu/chapters/s6681.pdf+max+jammer&hl=de&gl=de&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjMqxYX4kB2T1bfEXiMcwf_HE3uetROnsVm99yTeJxLw
8CHBpPjK16CpXW7n5wuR5wFLq5Yxgo14sSpVSTYXTmTT1DPz4pDDl4_z5eFR7mVqZn3ei9vFrVVrRfwITDQeH7I5F&sig=AHIEtbShlMEqHZfrr0q5IJtYTNouk3VxAg),p.43originalGerman
manuscript:"ZuSpinozasEthik"(http://www.autodidactproject.org/other/einstein9spinoza8.html).

Wemayassumetheexistenceofanaetheronlywemustgiveupascribingadefinitestateofmotiontoit,i.e.wemustbyabstractiontakefromitthelastmechanicalcharacteristicwhichLorentzhadstillleftit.
Butthisethermaynotbethoughtofasendowedwiththequalitycharacteristicofponderableinedia,asconsistingofpartswhichmaybetrackedthroughtime.Theideaofmotionmaynotbeappliedtoit.
Ontheirrelevanceoftheluminiferousaetherhypothesistophysicalmeasurements,inanaddressattheUniversityofLeiden(5May1920)

IamneitheraGermancitizen,nordoIbelieveinanythingthatcanbedescribedasa"Jewishfaith."ButIamaJewandgladtobelongtotheJewishpeople,thoughIdonotregarditinanywayaschosen.
LettertoCentralAssociationofGermanCitizensoftheJewishFaith,3[5]April1920,asquotedinAliceCalaprice,TheUltimateQuotableEinstein(2010),p.195citingIsraelitischesWochenblatt,42
September1920,TheCollectedPapersofAlbertEinstein,Vol.7,Doc.37,andVol.9,Doc368.

RaffiniertistderHerrgott,aberboshaftisternicht.
SubtleistheLord,butmaliciousHeisnot.
RemarkmadeduringEinstein'sfirstvisittoPrincetonUniversity.(April1921)]asquotedinEinstein(1973)byR.W.Clark,Ch.14."Godisslick,butheaintmean"isavarianttranslationofthis(1946) HowmuchdoIlovethatnobleman
Unsourcedvariant:"Godissubtlebutheisnotmalicious." MorethanIcouldtellwithwords
Whenaskedwhathemeantbythishereplied."Naturehideshersecretbecauseofheressentialloftiness,butnotbymeansofruse."(DieNaturverbirgtihrGeheimnisdurchdieErhabenheitihres
Wesens,abernichtdurchList.)AsquotedinSubtleistheLordTheScienceandtheLifeofAlbertEinstein(1982)byAbrahamPaiseinsteinandreligion.com
(http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/faith.html)
OriginallysaidtoPrincetonUniversitymathematicsprofessorOscarVeblen,May1921,whileEinsteinwasinPrincetonforaseriesoflectures,uponhearingthatanexperimentalresultbyDaytonC.
MillerofCleveland,iftrue,wouldcontradicthistheoryofgravitation.Buttheclaimeddiscrepancywasquitesmallandrequiredspecialcircumstances(henceEinsteins'sremark).Theresultturnedout
tobefalse.SomesaybythisremarkEinsteinmeantthatNaturehideshersecretsbybeingsubtle,whileotherssayhemeantthatnatureismischievousbutnotbentontrickery.[TheYaleBookof
Quotations,ed.FredR.Shapiro,2006]
Varianttranslation:Godmaybesophisticated,buthe'snotmalicious.
AsquotedinCherishedIllusions(2005)bySarahStern,p.109
Ihavesecondthoughts.MaybeGodismalicious.
SaidtoVladimirBargmann,asquotedinEinsteininAmerica(1985)byJamieSayen,indicatingthatGodleadspeopletobelievetheyunderstandthingsthattheyactuallyarefarfromunderstandingalsoin IamaJewandgladtobelongtothe
TheYaleBookofQuotations(2006),ed.FredR.Shapiro Jewishpeople,thoughIdonotregard
itinanywayaschosen..
Whenamanafterlongyearsofsearchingchancesonathoughtwhichdisclosessomethingofthebeautyofthismysteriousuniverse,heshouldnotthereforebepersonallycelebrated.Heisalreadysufficientlypaid
byhisexperienceofseekingandfinding.Inscience,moreover,theworkoftheindividualissoboundupwiththatofhisscientificpredecessorsandcontemporariesthatitappearsalmostasan
impersonalproductofhisgeneration.
Fromthestory"TheProgressofScience"inTheScientificMonthlyeditedbyJ.McKeenCattell(June1921(http://books.google.com/books?id=453muO6N4kC&pg=PA488IA1#v=onepage&q&f=false)),Vol.XII,No.6.Thestorysaysthat
thecommentsweremadeattheannualmeetingoftheNationalAcademyofSciencesattheNationalMuseuminWashingtononApril25,26,and27.Einstein'scommentsappearonp.579(http://books.google.com/books?id=453muO
6N4kC&pg=PA579#v=onepage&q&f=false),thoughthestorymaybeparaphrasingratherthandirectlyquotingsinceitsays"InreplyProfessorEinsteininsubstancesaid"thequoteabove.

[Idonot]carrysuchinformationinmymindsinceitisreadilyavailableinbooks....Thevalueofacollegeeducationisnotthelearningofmanyfactsbutthetrainingofthemindtothink.
InresponsetonotknowingthespeedofsoundasincludedintheEdisonTest:NewYorkTimes(18May1921)Einstein:HisLifeandTimes(1947)PhilippFrank,p.185Einstein,ALife(1996)byDenisBrian,p.129"EinsteinDueToday"
(February2005)editedbyJzsefIlly,Manuscript2532oftheEinsteinPaperProjectallprevioussourcesasperEinsteinHisLifeandUniverse(2007)byWalterIsaacson,p.299
Unsourcedvariants:"Inevercommittomemoryanythingthatcaneasilybelookedupinabook"and"Nevermemorizewhatyoucanlookupinbooks."(Thesecondversionisfoundin"RecordingtheExperience"(10June2004)atTheLibraryof
Congress(http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/world/worldrecord.html),butnocitationtoEinstein'swritingsisgiven).

IwassittinginachairinthepatentofficeatBernwhenallofsuddenathoughtoccurredtome:Ifapersonfallsfreelyhewillnotfeelhisownweight.Iwasstartled.Thissimplethoughtmadeadeepimpressiononme.Itimpelledmetowardatheoryof
gravitation.
EinsteininhisKyotoaddress(14December1922),talkingabouttheeventsof"probablythe2ndor3rdweeks"ofOctober1907,quotedinWhyDidEinsteinPutSoMuchEmphasisontheEquivalencePrinciple?byDr.RobertJ.Heaston
(http://www.worldnpa.org/pdf/abstracts/abstracts_23.pdf)inEquivalencePrincipleApril2008(15thNPAConference)whocitesA.Einstein.HowIConstructedtheTheoryofRelativity,TranslatedbyMasahiroMorikawafromthetext
recordedinJapanesebyJunIshiwara,AssociationofAsiaPacificPhysicalSocieties(AAPPS)Bulletin,Vol.15,No.2,pp.1719(April2005)

MaytheynotforgettokeeppurethegreatheritagethatputsthemaheadoftheWest:theartisticconfigurationoflife,thesimplicityandmodestyofpersonalneeds,andthepurityandserenityoftheJapanesesoul.
CommentmadeafterasixweektriptoJapaninNovemberDecember1922,publishedinKaizo5,no.1(January1923),339.EinsteinArchive36477.1.AppearsinTheNewQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice(2005),p.269
DieQuantenmechanikistsehrachtunggebietend.AbereineinnereStimmesagtmir,dadasdochnichtderwahreJakobist.DieTheorieliefertviel,aberdemGeheimnisdesAltenbringtsieuns
kaumnher.Jedenfallsbinichberzeugt,dadernichtwrfelt.
Quantummechanicsiscertainlyimposing.Butaninnervoicetellsmethatitisnotyettherealthing.Thetheorysaysalot,butdoesnotreallybringusanyclosertothesecretofthe"oldone."I,atanyrate,
amconvincedthatHedoesnotthrowdice.
LettertoMaxBorn(4December1926)TheBornEinsteinLetters(translatedbyIreneBorn)(WalkerandCompany,NewYork,1971)ISBN0802703267.
Einsteinhimselfusedvariantsofthisquoteatothertimes.Forexample,ina1943conversationwithWilliamHermannsrecordedinHermanns'bookEinsteinandthePoet,Einsteinsaid:"AsIhavesaid
somanytimes,Goddoesn'tplaydicewiththeworld."(p.58(http://books.google.com/books?id=QXCyjj6T5ZUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA58#v=onepage&q&f=false))

Whetheryoucanobserveathingornotdependsonthetheorywhichyouuse.Itisthetheorywhichdecideswhatcanbeobserved.
Objectingtotheplacingofobservablesattheheartofthenewquantummechanics,duringHeisenberg's1926lectureatBerlinrelatedbyHeisenberg,quotedinUnificationofFundamentalForces(1990)
byAbdusSalamISBN0521371406
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 3/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
byAbdusSalamISBN0521371406

Tryandpenetratewithourlimitedmeansthesecretsofnatureandyouwillfindthat,behindallthediscernibleconcatenations,thereremainssomethingsubtle,intangibleandinexplicable.
Venerationforthisforcebeyondanythingthatwecancomprehendismyreligion.TothatextentIam,inpointoffact,religious.
p.157London:WeidenfeldandNicolson
ResponsetoatheistAlfredKerrinthewinterof1927,whoafterderidingideasofGodandreligionatadinnerpartyinthehomeofthepublisherSamuelFischer,hadqueriedhim"Ihearthatyouare
supposedtobedeeplyreligious"asquotedinTheDiaryofaCosmopolitan(1971)byH.G.Kessler

IchglaubeanSpinozasGott,dersichindergesetzlichenHarmoniedesSeiendenoffenbart,nichtaneinenGott,dersichmitSchicksalenundHandlungenderMenschenabgibt.
IbelieveinSpinoza'sGod,WhorevealsHimselfinthelawfulharmonyoftheworld,notinaGodWhoconcernsHimselfwiththefateandthedoingsofmankind. SubtleistheLord,butmaliciousHeis
24April1929inresponsetothetelegrammedquestionofNewYork'sRabbiHerbertS.Goldstein:"DoyoubelieveinGod?Stop.Answerpaid50words."Einsteinrepliedinonly27(German)words.The not.
NewYorkTimes25April1929(http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10B1EFC3E54167A93C7AB178FD85F4D8285F9)
Similarly,inalettertoMauriceSolovine,hewrote:"Icanunderstandyouraversiontotheuseoftheterm'religion'todescribeanemotionalandpsychologicalattitudewhichshowsitselfmostclearlyin
Spinoza...Ihavenotfoundabetterexpressionthan'religious'forthetrustintherationalnatureofrealitythatis,atleasttoacertainextent,accessibletohumanreason."
AsquotedinEinstein:ScienceandReligion(http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/spinoza.html)byArnoldV.Lesikar

IfAissuccessinlife,thenA=x+y+z.Workisx,playisyandziskeepingyourmouthshut.
SaidtoSamuelJWoolf,Berlin,Summer1929.CitedwithadditionalnotesinTheUltimateQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalapriceandFreemanDyson,PrincetonUP(2010)p230

Scienceisinternationalbutitssuccessisbasedoninstitutions,whichareownedbynations.Iftherefore,wewishtopromoteculturewehavetocombineandtoorganizeinstitutionswithourown
powerandmeans.
Whenaskedthequestion,WhyaJewishUniversity?whenEinsteinwasassistingChaimWeizmanninfundraisingforTheHebrewUniversityofJerusalem.
Asquotedin[AlbertEinstein,LetterEinsteininSingapore.ManchesterGuardian,October12,1929]

1930s

Lifeislikeridingabicycle.Tokeepyourbalanceyoumustkeepmoving.
LettertohissonEduard(5February1930),asquotedinWalterIsaacson,Einstein:HisLifeandUniverse(2007),p.367
Thevalueofacollegeeducationis
Ibelievethatwhateverwedoorliveforhasitscausalityitisgood,however,thatwecannotseethroughtoit. notthelearningofmanyfactsbutthe
InterviewwithRabindranathTagore(14April1930),publishedinTheReligionofMan(1930)byRabindranathTagore,p.222,andinTheTagoreReader(1971)editedbyAmiyaChakravarty trainingofthemindtothink.

Thereallygoodmusic,whetheroftheEastoroftheWest,cannotbeanalyzed.
InterviewwithRabindranathTagore(14April1930),publishedinTheReligionofMan(1930)byRabindranathTagore,p.222,andinTheTagoreReader(1971)editedbyAmiyaChakravarty

Topunishmeformycontemptofauthority,Fatehasmademeanauthoritymyself.
Aphorismforafriend(18September1930)[EinsteinArchive36598]asquotedinAlbertEinstein:CreatorandRebel(1988)byBaneshHoffman

Ineverthinkofthefuture.Itcomessoonenough.
AttributedinTheEncartaBookofQuotations(http://books.google.com/books?id=Af84fBmzmVYC&pg=PA305&dq=Belgenland)toaninterviewontheBelgenland(December1930),whichwastheshiponwhichhearrivedinNewYork
thatmonth.AccordingtoTheUltimateQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice(2010),p.18(http://books.google.com/books?id=G_iziBAPXtEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA18#v=onepage&q&f=false),thequotealsoappearsas"Aphorism,19451946"
intheEinsteinArchives36570.Calapricespeculatesthat"perhapsitwasrecalledlaterandinsertedintothearchivesunderthelaterdate."AccordingtoasnippetonGoogleBooks,thephrase'"Ineverthinkofthefuture,"hesaid."Itcomessoon
enough."'appearsinTheLiteraryDigest:Volume107onp.29,inanarticletitled"WeMayNot'Get'Relativity,ButWeLikeEinstein"from27December1930(http://books.google.com/books?
id=T0A_AAAAMAAJ&q=%22we+like+einstein%22#search_anchor).Thesnippet(http://books.google.com/books?
id=T0A_AAAAMAAJ&q=belgenland+%22I+never+think+of+the+future%22+%22it+comes+soon+enough%22#search_anchor)alsodiscussesthe"welcometoProfessorEinsteinontheBelgenland"inNewYork

Peacecannotbekeptbyforce.Itcanonlybeachievedbyunderstanding.Youcannotsubjugateanationforciblyunlessyouwipeouteveryman,woman,andchild.Unlessyouwishtousesuchdrastic
measures,youmustfindawayofsettlingyourdisputeswithoutresorttoarms.
FromaspeechtotheNewHistorySociety(14December1930),reprintedin"MilitantPacifism"inCosmicReligion(http://books.google.com/books?
id=cvlOAAAAMAAJ&q=%22peace+cannot+be+kept+by+force%22#search_anchor)(1931)alsofoundinTheNewQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice,p.158

Besidesagreeingwiththeaimsofvegetarianismforaestheticandmoralreasons,itismyviewthatavegetarianmanneroflivingbyitspurelyphysicaleffectonthehumantemperamentwouldmostbeneficially
influencethelotofmankind.
FromalettertoHermannHuth,VicePresidentoftheGermanVegetarianFederation,27December1930.SupposedlypublishedinGermanmagazineVegetarischeWarte,whichexistedfrom1882to
1935.EinsteinArchive46756.QuotedinTheUltimateQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice(2011),p.453(https://books.google.it/books?id=G_iziBAPXtEC&pg=PA453).ISBN9780691138176
Thetheorysaysalot,butdoesnot
DerGlaubeaneinevomwahrnehmendenSubjektunabhngigeAuenweltliegtallerNaturwissenschaftzugrunde.
reallybringusanyclosertothesecret
Firstsentenceof"MaxwellsEinflussaufdieEntwicklungderAuffassungdesPhysikalischRealen".ManuscriptattheHebrewUniversityJerusalemalberteinstein.info ofthe"oldone."I,atanyrate,am
(http://alberteinstein.info/vufind1/Digital/EAR000034102#page/1/mode/2up) convincedthatHedoesnotthrow
Thebeliefinanexternalworldindependentoftheperceivingsubjectisthebasisofallnaturalscience. dice.
From"Maxwell'sInfluenceontheEvolutionoftheIdeaofPhysicalReality,"1931.AvailableinEinsteinArchives:65382

ThescientificorganizationandcomprehensiveexpositioninaccessibleformoftheTalmudhasatwofoldimportanceforusJews.ItisimportantinthefirstplacethatthehighculturalvaluesoftheTalmudshouldnot
belosttomodernmindsamongtheJewishpeoplenortoscience,butshouldoperatefurtherasalivingforce.Inthesecondplace,TheTalmudmustbemadeanopenbooktotheworld,inordertocuttheground
fromundercertainmalevolentattacks,ofantiSemiticorigin,whichborrowcountenancefromtheobscurityandinaccessibilityofcertainpassagesintheTalmud.

TosupportthisculturalworkwouldthusmeananimportantachievementfortheJewishpeople.

FromaletterbyAlbertEinsteintoProfessorChaimTchernowitz(31December1930)oftheJewishInstituteofReligioninNewYork(HebrewUnionCollege).JewishTelegraphicAgency(JewishDaily
Bulletin)

Iamnotonlyapacifistbutamilitantpacifist.Iamwillingtofightforpeace.Nothingwillendwarunlessthepeoplethemselvesrefusetogotowar.
InterviewwithGeorgeSylvesterViereck(January1931)

Whydoesthismagnificentappliedsciencewhichsavesworkandmakeslifeeasierbringussolittlehappiness?Thesimpleanswerruns:Becausewehavenotyetlearnedtomakesensibleuse IbelieveinSpinoza'sGod,Who
ofit.Inwaritservesthatwemaypoisonandmutilateeachother.Inpeaceithasmadeourliveshurriedanduncertain.Insteadoffreeingusingreatmeasurefromspirituallyexhaustinglabor,ithasmademeninto revealsHimselfinthelawfulharmony
slavesofmachinery,whoforthemostpartcompletetheirmonotonouslongday'sworkwithdisgustandmustcontinuallytremblefortheirpoorrations.Itisnotenoughthatyoushouldunderstandaboutapplied oftheworld,notinaGodWho
scienceinorderthatyourworkmayincreaseman'sblessings.Concernforthemanhimselfandhisfatemustalwaysformthechiefinterestofalltechnicalendeavoursconcernforthegreatunsolvedproblemsofthe concernsHimselfwiththefateand
organizationoflaborandthedistributionofgoodsinorderthatthecreationsofourmindshallbeablessingandnotacursetomankind.Neverforgetthisinthemidstofyourdiagramsandequations. thedoingsofmankind.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 4/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
organizationoflaborandthedistributionofgoodsinorderthatthecreationsofourmindshallbeablessingandnotacursetomankind.Neverforgetthisinthemidstofyourdiagramsandequations.
SpeechtostudentsattheCaliforniaInstituteofTechnology,in"EinsteinSeesLackinApplyingScience"(http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?
res=F50A1FFF3F5E1B7A93C5A81789D85F458385F9&scp=4&sq=&st=p),TheNewYorkTimes(16February1931)

Today,intwelvecountries,youngmenareresistingconscriptionandrefusingmilitaryservice.Theyarethepioneersofawarlessworld.
LettertotheinternationalconferenceofwarresistersinLyons,France.QuotedinTheChristiancentury,Volume48(1931),p.1085(http://books.google.com/books?
id=jJg5AQAAIAAJ&q=%22warless+world%22#search_anchor)(thecontextismentionedhere(http://books.google.com/books?
id=jJg5AQAAIAAJ&q=%22conference+of+war+resisters%22#search_anchor)),andlaterinEinsteinonPeace(1968),p.142(http://books.google.com/books?
id=Tr9ZAAAAYAAJ&q=%22pioneers+of+a+warless+world%22#search_anchor)

Ibelieveinintuitionandinspiration.AttimesIfeelcertainIamrightwhilenotknowingthereason.Whentheeclipseof1919confirmedmyintuition,Iwasnotintheleastsurprised.InfactIwould
havebeenastonishedhaditturnedoutotherwise.Imaginationismoreimportantthanknowledge.Forknowledgeislimited,whereasimaginationembracestheentireworld,stimulatingprogress,
givingbirthtoevolution.Itis,strictlyspeaking,arealfactorinscientificresearch.
CosmicReligion:WithOtherOpinionsandAphorisms(1931)byAlbertEinstein,p.97alsoinTransformation:Arts,Communication,Environment(1950)byHarryHoltzman,p.138.Thismaybe
aneditedversionofsomenearlyidenticalquotesfromthe1929Viereckinterviewbelow. Lifeislikeridingabicycle.Tokeep
yourbalanceyoumustkeepmoving.
Everyonesitsintheprisonofhisownideashemustburstitopen,andthatinhisyouth,andsotrytotesthisideasonreality.
Miscellaneous(http://books.google.com/books?
id=cvlOAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Everyone+sits+in+the+prison+of+his+own+ideas+he+must+burst+it+open+and+that+in+his+youth+and+so+try+to+test+his+ideas+on+reality%22&pg=PA104#v=onepage),CosmicReligion,p.104(1931)

Iseeaclock,butIcannotenvisiontheclockmaker.Thehumanmindisunabletoconceiveofthefourdimensions,sohowcanitconceiveofaGod,beforewhomathousandyearsandathousanddimensionsareasone?
FromCosmicreligion:withotheropinionsandaphorisms(1931),AlbertEinstein,pub.CoviciFriede.QuotedinTheExpandedQuotableEinstein,PrincetonUniversityPress2ndedition(May30,2000)Page208,ISBN0691070210

Asaneminentpioneerintherealmofhighfrequencycurrents...Icongratulateyouonthegreatsuccessesofyourlife'swork.
Einstein'sletter(http://www.teslasociety.com/einsteinletter.jpg)toNikolaTeslaforTesla's75thbirthday(1931)

Onlyalifelivedforothersisalifeworthwhile.
InanswertoaquestionaskedbytheeditorsofYouth,ajournalofYoungIsraelofWilliamsburg,NY.QuotedintheNewYorkTimes,June20,1932,pg.17(http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?
res=F40617F83B5A13738DDDA90A94DE405B828FF1D3)
Unsourcedvariant:Onlyalifeintheserviceofothersisworthliving.

Ourexperiencehithertojustifiesusintrustingthatnatureistherealizationofthesimplestthatismathematicallyconceivable.Iamconvincedthatpurelymathematicalconstructionenablesustofind
thoseconceptsandthoselawlikeconnectionsbetweenthemthatprovidethekeytotheunderstandingofnaturalphenomena.Usefulmathematicalconceptsmaywellbesuggestedbyexperience,butinnowaycan
theybederivedfromit.Experiencenaturallyremainsthesolecriterionoftheusefulnessofamathematicalconstructionforphysics.Buttheactualcreativeprincipleliesinmathematics.Thus,inacertainsense,I
takeittobetruethatpurethoughtcangraspthereal,astheancientshaddreamed.
fromOntheMethodofTheoreticalPhysics,p.183.TheHerbertSpencerLecture,deliveredatOxford(10June1933).QuotedinEinstein'sPhilosophyofScience
(http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/einsteinphilscience/)

Itcanscarcelybedeniedthatthesupremegoalofalltheoryistomaketheirreduciblebasicelementsassimpleandasfewaspossiblewithouthavingtosurrendertheadequaterepresentation
ofasingledatumofexperience.
"OntheMethodofTheoreticalPhysics"TheHerbertSpencerLecture,deliveredatOxford(10June1933)alsopublishedinPhilosophyofScience,Vol.1,No.2(April1934),pp.163169.,p.165.
[thankstoDr.Techie@www.wordorigins.organdJSTOR] Ibelievethatwhateverwedoorlive
ThereisaquoteattributedtoEinsteinthatmayhavearisenasaparaphraseoftheabovequote,commonlygivenasEverythingshouldbemadeassimpleaspossible,butnosimpler.orMakethings forhasitscausalityitisgood,
assimpleaspossible,butnotsimpler.SeethisarticlefromtheQuoteInvestigator(http://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/05/13/einsteinsimple/#more2363)foradiscussionofwheretheselatervariantsmay however,thatwecannotseethrough
havearisen. toit.
ThismayseemverysimilartoOccam'srazorwhichadvocatesthesimplestsolution.However,itisnormallytakentobeawarningagainsttoomuchsimplicity.Dubbed'Einstein'srazor',itisusedwhenan
appealtoOccam'srazorresultsinanoversimplifiedexplanationthatleadstoafalseconclusion.
TheearliestknownappearanceofEinstein'srazorisanessaybyRogerSessionsintheNewYorkTimes(8January1950)[1](http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?
res=F30615FE3559137A93CAA9178AD85F448585F9),whereSessionsappearstobeparaphrasingEinstein:IalsorememberaremarkofAlbertEinstein,whichcertainlyappliestomusic.Hesaid,in
effect,thateverythingshouldbeassimpleasitcanbe,butnotsimpler.
Anotherearlyappearance,fromTimemagazine(14December1962)[2](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,872923,00.html):WetrytokeepinmindasayingattributedtoEinsteinthat
everythingmustbemadeassimpleaspossible,butnotonebitsimpler.

"Nobodycandenythattodaythisfoundationofaworthyexistenceisinconsiderabledanger.ForcesareatworkwhichareattemptingtodestroytheEuropeaninheritanceoffreedom,tolerance,andhuman
dignity.ThedangerischaracterisedasHitlerism,Militarism,andCommunismwhich,whileindicatingdifferentconditions,allleadtothesubjugationandenslavementoftheindividualbytheState,andbring
toleranceandpersonallibertytoanendIfwewanttoresistthepowerswhichthreatentosuppressintellectualandindividualfreedom,wemustkeepclearlybeforeuswhatisatstake.Withoutsuchfreedom Topunishmeformycontemptof
therewouldhavebeennoShakespeare,noGoethe,noFaraday,noPasteur,noLister.Therewouldbenocomfortablehousesforthepeople,norailways,nowireless,noprotectionagainstepidemics,nocheap authority,Fatehasmademean
books,noculture,noenjoymentofartforall.Onlymenwhoarefreecancreatetheworkswhichmakelifeworthliving." authoritymyself.
TheValueoftheFreeMan(http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~noam/thevalueofthefreeman.txt),Alecturedeliveredbefore"TheFriendsofEurope"(London)transcribedinWorldDigest(April1934)

Thereisnottheslightestindicationthat[nuclearenergy]willeverbeobtainable.Itwouldmeanthattheatomwouldhavetobeshatteredatwill.
Asquotedin"AtomEnergyHopeisSpikedByEinstein/EffortsatLoosingVastForceisCalledFruitless,"PittsburghPostGazette(29December1934)itwasonlyafterthebreakthroughsbyEnrico
Fermiandothersinproducingnuclearchainreactionsthattheuseofnuclearpowerbecameplausible.

Ineverfailedinmathematics.BeforeIwasfifteenIhadmastereddifferentialandintegralcalculus.
Responsetobeingshowna"Ripley'sBelieveItorNot!"columnwiththeheadline"GreatestLivingMathematicianFailedinMathematics"in1935.QuotedinEinstein:HisLifeandUniversebyWalter
Isaacson(2007),p.16(http://books.google.com/books?id=cdxWNE7NY6QC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA16#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Allofscienceisnothingmorethantherefinementofeverydaythinking.
"PhysicsandReality"intheJournaloftheFranklinInstituteVol.221,Issue3(March1936)
Varianttranslation:"Thewholeofscienceisnothingmorethanarefinementofeverydaythinking."Asitappearsinthe"PhysicsandReality"sectionofthebook"OutofMyLaterYears"byAlbertEinstein
(1950)

Ithasoftenbeensaid,andcertainlynotwithoutjustification,thatthemanofscienceisapoorphilosopher.Whythenshoulditnotbetherightthingforthephysicisttoletthephilosopherdothephilosophizing?Such Peacecannotbekeptbyforce.Itcan
mightindeedbetherightthingtodoatatimewhenthephysicistbelieveshehasathisdisposalarigidsystemoffundamentallawswhicharesowellestablishedthatwavesofdoubtcan'treachthembutitcannot onlybeachievedbyunderstanding.
berightatatimewhentheveryfoundationsofphysicsitselfhavebecomeproblematicastheyarenow.Atatimelikethepresent,whenexperienceforcesustoseekanewerandmoresolidfoundation,the
physicistcannotsimplysurrendertothephilosopherthecriticalcontemplationoftheoreticalfoundationsforhehimselfknowsbestandfeelsmoresurelywheretheshoepinches.Inlookingforannewfoundation,
hemusttrytomakeclearinhisownmindjusthowfartheconceptswhichheusesarejustified,andarenecessities.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 5/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
"PhysicsandReality"intheJournaloftheFranklinInstituteVol.221,Issue3(March1936),Pages349382
Onemaysay"theeternalmysteryoftheworldisitscomprehensibility."
Fromthearticle"PhysicsandReality"(1936),reprintedinOutofMyLaterYears(1956).Thequotationmarksmayjustindicatethathewantstopresentthisasanewaphorism,butitcouldpossiblyindicatethatheisparaphrasingorquoting
someoneelseperhapsImmanuelKant,sinceinthenextsentencehesays"ItisoneofthegreatrealizationsofImmanuelKantthatthesettingupofarealexternalworldwouldbesenselesswithoutthis
comprehensibility."
Othervariants:
Theeternallyincomprehensiblethingabouttheworldisitscomprehensibility.
IntheendnotestoEinstein:HisLifeandUniversebyWalterIsaacson,note46onp.628(http://books.google.com/books?id=cdxWNE7NY6QC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA628#v=onepage&q&f=false)
saysthat"GeraldHoltonsaysthatthisismoreproperlytranslated"asthevariantabove,citingHolton'sessay"WhatPreciselyisThinking?"onp.161ofEinstein:ACentenaryVolumeeditedby
AnthonyPhilipFrench.
Themostincomprehensiblethingabouttheworldisthatitiscomprehensible.
ThisversionwasgiveninEinstein:ABiography(1954)byAntoninaVallentin,p.24,andwidelyquotedafterwards.Vallentincites"PhysicsandReality"inJournaloftheFranklinInstitute(March
1936),andispossiblygivingavarianttranslationaswithHolton.
Themostincomprehensiblethingabouttheworldisthatitisatallcomprehensible.
AsquotedinSpeakingofScience(2000)byMichaelFripp
TheeternalmysteryoftheworldisitscomprehensibilityThefactthatitiscomprehensibleisamiracle.
AsquotedinEinstein:HisLifeandUniversebyWalterIsaacson,p.462(http://books.google.com/books?id=cdxWNE7NY6QC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA462#v=onepage&q&f=false).Intheoriginal
essay"Thefactthatitiscomprehensibleisamiracle"appearsattheendoftheparagraphthatfollowstheparagraphinwhich"Theeternalmysteryoftheworldisitscomprehensibility"appears.

Allreligions,artsandsciencesarebranchesofthesametree.Alltheseaspirationsaredirectedtowardennoblingman'slife,liftingitfromthesphereofmerephysicalexistenceandleadingthe
Itcanscarcelybedeniedthatthe
individualtowardsfreedom.Itisnomerechancethatourolderuniversitiesdevelopedfromclericalschools.Bothchurchesanduniversitiesinsofarastheyliveuptotheirtruefunctionservethe
supremegoalofalltheoryistomake
ennoblementoftheindividual.Theyseektofulfillthisgreattaskbyspreadingmoralandculturalunderstanding,renouncingtheuseofbruteforce. theirreduciblebasicelementsas
Theessentialunityofecclesiasticalandsecularinstitutionswaslostduringthe19thcentury,tothepointofsenselesshostility.Yettherewasneveranydoubtastothestrivingforculture.Noonedoubtedthe simpleandasfewaspossiblewithout
sacrednessofthegoal.Itwastheapproachthatwasdisputed. havingtosurrendertheadequate
"MoralDecay"(1937)LaterpublishedinOutofMyLaterYears(1950) representationofasingledatumof
experience.
Bytheway,thereareincreasingsignsthattheRussiantrialsarenotfaked,butthatthereisaplotamongthosewholookuponStalinasastupidreactionarywhohasbetrayedtheideasoftherevolution.Thoughwe
finditdifficulttoimaginethiskindofinternalthing,thosewhoknowRussiabestareallmoreorlessofthesameopinion.Iwasfirmlyconvincedtobeginwiththatitwasacaseofadictator'sdespoticacts,basedon
liesanddeception,butthiswasadelusion.
LettertoMaxBorn(nodate,1937or1938)TheBornEinsteinLetters(translatedbyIreneBorn)(WalkerandCompany,NewYork,1971)ISBN0802703267.Borncommented:"TheRussiantrialswere
Stalin'spurges,withwhichheattemptedtoconsolidatehispower.LikemostpeopleintheWest,Ibelievedtheseshowtrialstobethearbitraryactsofacrueldictator.Einsteinwasapparentlyofadifferent
opinion:hebelievedthatwhenthreatenedbyHitlertheRussianshadnochoicebuttodestroyasmanyoftheirenemieswithintheirowncampaspossible.Ifindithardtoreconcilethispointofviewwith
Einstein'sgentle,humanitariandisposition."

Iconsideritimportant,indeedurgentlynecessary,forintellectualworkerstogettogether,bothtoprotecttheirowneconomicstatusand,also,generallyspeaking,tosecuretheirinfluenceinthepoliticalfield.
InacommentexplainingwhyhejoinedtheAmericanFederationofTeacherslocalnumber552asachartermember(1938)

Physicalconceptsarefreecreationsofthehumanmind,andarenot,howeveritmayseem,uniquelydeterminedbytheexternalworld.Inourendeavortounderstandrealitywearesomewhatlikea
mantryingtounderstandthemechanismofaclosedwatch.Heseesthefaceandthemovinghands,evenhearsitsticking,buthehasnowayofopeningthecase.Ifheisingenioushemayformsomepictureofa
Allreligions,artsandsciencesare
mechanismwhichcouldberesponsibleforallthethingsheobserves,buthemayneverbequitesurehispictureistheonlyonewhichcouldexplainhisobservations.Hewillneverbeabletocomparehispicture
branchesofthesametree...
withtherealmechanismandhecannotevenimaginethepossibilityorthemeaningofsuchacomparison.Buthecertainlybelievesthat,ashisknowledgeincreases,hispictureofrealitywillbecome
simplerandsimplerandwillexplainawiderandwiderrangeofhissensuousimpressions.Hemayalsobelieveintheexistenceoftheideallimitofknowledgeandthatitisapproachedbythehuman
mind.Hemaycallthisideallimittheobjectivetruth.
TheEvolutionofPhysics(1938)(cowrittenwithLeopoldInfeld)

Fundamentalideasplaythemostessentialroleinformingaphysicaltheory.Booksonphysicsarefullofcomplicatedmathematicalformulae.Butthoughtandideas,notformulae,arethebeginningofeveryphysicaltheory.Theideasmustlatertakethe
mathematicalformofaquantitativetheory,tomakepossiblethecomparisonwithexperiment.
TheEvolutionofPhysics(1938)(cowrittenwithLeopoldInfeld)

Themoraldeclinewearecompelledtowitnessandthesufferingitengendersaresooppressivethatonecannotignorethemevenforamoment.Nomatterhowdeeplyoneimmersesoneselfinwork,ahauntingfeelingofinescapabletragedypersists.Still,
therearemomentswhenonefeelsfreefromone'sownidentificationwithhumanlimitationsandinadequacies.Atsuchmoments,oneimaginesthatonestandsonsomespotofasmallplanet,gazinginamazementatthecoldyet
profoundlymovingbeautyoftheeternal,theunfathomable:lifeanddeathflowintoone,andthereisneitherevolutionnordestinyonlybeing.
LettertoQueenMotherElisabethofBelgium(9January1939),askingforherhelpingettinganelderlycousinofhisoutofGermanyandintoBelgium.QuotedinEinsteinonPeaceeditedbyOttoNathanandHeinzNorden(1960),p.282

Thestandardbearershavegrownweakinthedefenseoftheirpricelessheritage,andthepowersofdarknesshavebeenstrengthenedthereby.Weaknessofattitudebecomesweaknessofcharacteritbecomeslackofpowertoactwithcourage
proportionatetodanger.Allthismustleadtothedestructionofourintellectuallifeunlessthedangersummonsupstrongpersonalitiesabletofillthelukewarmanddiscouragedwithnewstrengthandresolution.
SpeechmadeinhonorofThomasManninJanuary1939,whenMannwasgiventheEinsteinPrizegivenbytheJewishForum.QuotedinEinsteinLivedHerebyAbrahamPais(1994),p.214(http://books.google.com/books?
id=u_9QAAAAMAAJ&q=%22becomes+lack+of+power%22#search_anchor)

Generationstocome,itmaywellbe,willscarcebelievethatsuchamanasthisoneeverinfleshandbloodwalkeduponthisEarth.
StatementontheoccasionofGandhi's70thbirthday(1939)Einsteinarchive32601,publishedinOutofMyLaterYears(http://books.google.com/books?
id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&pg=PA240&lpg=PA240&dq=einstein+%22out+of+my+later+years%22+%22will+scarce+believe%22&source=web&ots=xRZlwUOcEY&sig=0oe_RZgwXaNYtrIGzXDqmfWna0)(1950).
Variant:Generationstocome,itmaybe,willscarcelybelievethatsuchaoneasthiseverinfleshandbloodwalkeduponthisearth.

SomerecentworkbyE.FermiandL.Szilard,whichhasbeencommunicatedtomeinmanuscript,leadsmetoexpectthattheelementuraniummaybeturnedintoanewandimportantsourceofenergyintheimmediatefuture.Certainaspectsofthe
situationseemtocallforwatchfulnessand,ifnecessary,quickactiononthepartoftheAdministration...

Thisnewphenomenonwouldalsoleadtotheconstructionofbombs,anditisconceivablethoughmuchlesscertainthatextremelypowerfulbombsofanewtypemaythusbeconstructed.Asinglebombofthistype,carriedbyboatorexplodedina
port,mightverywelldestroythewholeporttogetherwithsomeofthesurroundingterritory.However,suchbombsmightverywellprovetobetooheavyfortransportationbyair.
LettertoPresidentFranklinD.Roosevelt(August2,1939,deliveredOctober11,1939)reportedinEinsteinonPeace,ed.OttoNathanandHeinzNorden(1960,reprinted1981),pp.29495

1940s

Greatspiritshavealwaysencounteredviolentoppositionfrommediocreminds.Themediocremindisincapableofunderstandingthemanwhorefusestobowblindlytoconventionalprejudices
andchoosesinsteadtoexpresshisopinionscourageouslyandhonestly.
LettertoMorrisRaphaelCohen,professoremeritusofphilosophyattheCollegeoftheCityofNewYork,defendingtheappointmentofBertrandRusselltoateachingposition(19March1940).
Variant:Greatspiritshavealwaysfoundviolentoppositionfrommediocrities.Thelattercannotunderstanditwhenamandoesnotthoughtlesslysubmittohereditaryprejudicesbuthonestlyandcourageously
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 6/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Variant:Greatspiritshavealwaysfoundviolentoppositionfrommediocrities.Thelattercannotunderstanditwhenamandoesnotthoughtlesslysubmittohereditaryprejudicesbuthonestlyandcourageously
useshisintelligenceandfulfillsthedutytoexpresstheresultsofhisthoughtsinclearform.

Perfectionofmeansandconfusionofgoalsseeminmyopiniontocharacterizeourage.
"TheCommonLanguageofScience",abroadcastforScience,Conference,London,28September1941.PublishedinAdvancementofScience,London,Vol.2,No.5.ReprintedinIdeasandOpinions
(1954),thequoteappearingonthispage(http://books.google.com/books?id=OeUoXHoAJMsC&lpg=PP1&pg=PT357#v=onepage&q&f=false).

PeoplelikeyouandI,thoughmortalofcourselikeeveryoneelse,donotgrowoldnomatterhowlongwelive...[We]neverceasetostandlikecuriouschildrenbeforethegreatmysteryintowhichwewereborn.
InalettertoOttoJuliusburger,September29,1942.AvailableinEinsteinArchives38238
Generationstocome,itmaywellbe,
DonotworryaboutyourdifficultiesinMathematics.Icanassureyouminearestillgreater. willscarcebelievethatsuchamanas
LettertohighschoolstudentBarbaraLeeWilson(7January1943),EinsteinArchives42606 thisoneeverinfleshandblood
walkeduponthisEarth.
Whyisitnobodyunderstandsmeandeverybodylikesme?
AsquotedinNewYorkTimesarticle"TheEinsteinTheoryofLivingAt65heleadsthesimplestoflivesandgrappleswiththemostcomplexthoughts."(http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?
res=F00713FA3A58157A93C0A81788D85F408485F9)(12March1944)
Variants:
Whyisitthatnobodyunderstandsme,yeteverybodylikesme?
AsquotedinTheDarkSideofShakespeare:AnElizabethanCourtier,Diplomat,Spymaster,&EpicHero(2003)byW.RonHess
Everyonelikesme,yetnobodyunderstandsme.
Asquotedin"ThecultureofEinstein"atMSNBC(18March2005)(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7406337/)

Ithinkthatitisthedutyofeverycitizenaccordingtohisbestcapacitiestogivevaliditytohisconvictionsinpoliticalaffairs.
Fromthearticle"OurGoalUnity,butGermansAreUnfit"inFreeWorld8(October1944),no.4,370371(http://books.google.com/books?
id=FxHPAAAAMAAJ&q=%22duty+of+every+citizen%22#search_anchor).AsummaryofthecontextisgiveninEinsteinonPoliticsbyDavidE.RoweandRobertJ.Schulmann(2005),p.334
(http://books.google.com/books?id=AIHgKp6mhgC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA334#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Ifullyagreewithyouaboutthesignificanceandeducationalvalueofmethodologyaswellashistoryandphilosophyofscience.Somanypeopletodayandevenprofessionalscientistsseemtomelike
someonewhohasseenthousandsoftreesbuthasneverseenaforest.Aknowledgeofthehistoricandphilosophicalbackgroundgivesthatkindofindependencefromprejudicesofhis
generationfromwhichmostscientistsaresuffering.Thisindependencecreatedbyphilosophicalinsightisinmyopinionthemarkofdistinctionbetweenamereartisanorspecialistanda
realseekeraftertruth.
LettertoRobertA.Thorton,PhysicsProfessoratUniversityofPuertoRico(7December1944)[EA674,EinsteinArchive,HebrewUniversity,Jerusalem].ThortonhadwrittentoEinsteinonpersuading Greatspiritshavealwaysencountered
colleaguesoftheimportanceofphilosophyofsciencetoscientists(empiricists)andscience. violentoppositionfrommediocre
minds...
Thewordsorthelanguage,astheyarewrittenorspoken,donotseemtoplayanyroleinmymechanismofthought.Thepsychicalentitieswhichseemtoserveaselementsinthoughtsarecertainsigns

andmoreorlessclearimageswhichcanbe"voluntarily"reproducedandcombined.Thereis,ofcourse,acertainconnectionbetweenthoseelementsandrelevantlogicalconcepts.Itisalsoclearthatthedesireto
arrivefinallyatlogicallyconnectedconceptsistheemotionalbasisofthisrathervagueplaywiththeabovementionedelements....Theabovementionedelementsare,inmycase,ofvisualandsomemuscular
type.Conventionalwordsorothersignshavetobesoughtforlaboriouslyonlyinasecondarystage,whenthementionedassociativeplayissufficientlyestablishedandcanbereproducedatwill.
AnswertoasurveywrittenbytheFrenchmathematicianJaquesHadamard,fromHadamard'sAnEssayonthePsychologyofInventionintheMathematicalField(1945).ReprintedinIdeasand
Opinions(1954).Hisfullsetofanswerstothequestionscanbereadonp.3here(http://www.pitt.edu/~jdnorton/Goodies/Einstein_think/index.html).

IreceivedyourletterofJune10th.IhavenevertalkedtoaJesuitpriestinmylifeandIamastonishedbytheaudacitytotellsuchliesaboutme.FromtheviewpointofaJesuitpriestIam,of
course,andhavealwaysbeenanatheist.
LettertoGuyH.RanerJr.(2July1945),respondingtoarumorthataJesuitpriesthadcausedEinsteintoconverttoChristianity,quotedinanarticlebyMichaelR.GilmoreinSkepticmagazine,Vol.5,No.
2(1997) Whyisitnobodyunderstandsmeand
everybodylikesme?
ThereisseparationofcoloredpeoplefromwhitepeopleintheUnitedStates.Thatseparationisnotadiseaseofcoloredpeople.Itisadiseaseofwhitepeople.Idonotintendtobequietabout
it.
FromaspeechgivenonMay3,1946atLincolnUniversity,wherehewasreceivinganhonorarydegree,asreportedinthe11May1946editionoftheBaltimoreAfroAmerican.

Ourworldfacesacrisisasyetunperceivedbythosepossessingpowertomakegreatdecisionsforgoodorevil.Theunleashedpoweroftheatomhaschangedeverythingsaveourmodesofthinking
andwethusdrifttowardunparalleledcatastrophe.
Fromthearticle"AtomicEducationUrgedbyEinstein"(http://www.turnthetide.info/id54.htm),TheNewYorkTimes(25May1946(http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?
res=F50C14F6345413738DDDAC0A94DD405B8688F1D3)).ThearticlereportedonatelegramsentoutbyEinsteinto"severalhundredprominentAmericans",askingforcontributionstoanationwide
campaignbytheEmergencyCommitteeofAtomicScientiststo"toletthepeopleknowthatanewtypeofthinkingisessential"intheageofatomicweapons.
Accordingto"ABriefHistoryoftheBulletin(http://web.archive.org/web/19980202194643/http://www.bullatomsci.org/nuclear/Bulletin.html)fromtheformerhomepage
(http://web.archive.org/web/19980202194625/http://www.bullatomsci.org/index.html)oftheBulletinoftheAtomicScientists,'InMay1946,Einstein,oneoftheBulletin'sgodfathers,wroteinanearly
Bulletinfundraisingletter:"Theunleashedpoweroftheatomhaschangedeverythingsaveourmodesofthinking,andthuswedrifttowardunparalleledcatastrophe."'
Variant:"Ourworldisfacedwithacrisiswhichhasneverbeforebeenenvisagedinitswholeexistenceitgivesthepowertomakefarreachingdecisionsongoodandevil.Thereleaseofatompowerhas
changedeverythingexceptourwayofthinking,andthuswearebeingdrivenunarmedtowardsacatastrophe.thesolutionofthisproblemliesintheheartofhumankind."
ThisversionappearsinAlbertEinstein:ADocumentaryBiographybyCarlSeelig,theEnglishtranslationbyMervynSavill(1956),p.223.Itmaybethatthedifferenceinwordinghereowestothe
factthatSeeligtranslatedEinstein'sEnglishtelegramintoGerman,andthenMervynSavilltranslateditbackintoEnglishwithoutrealizingtheversioninSeelig'sbookwasitselfatranslationfrom
English.Ifthisisthecase,itisunclearwherethephrase"thesolutionofthisproblemliesintheheartofhumankind"camefrom,asitdoesnotseemtocorrespondtoanythingintheoriginaltelegram.It
maybeavariantofsomecommentthatappearedinhislaterinterviewwithMichaelAmrine(whichwasprintedintheNewYorkTimesMagazineon23June1946
(http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60715F63E5C14738DDDAA0A94DE405B8688F1D3),andisalsoreproducedonthispage(http://www.turnthetide.info/id54.htm))wherehe Aslongastherearesovereignnations
expandedonthemessageofthetelegraphforexample,itmaybearetranslatedversionofhiscomment"Sciencehasbroughtforththisdanger,buttherealproblemisinthemindsandheartsofmen." possessinggreatpower,waris
inevitable.
Itiseasiertodenatureplutoniumthanitistodenaturetheevilspiritofman.
TheRealProblemIsintheHeartsofMen(http://books.google.com/books?id=AIHgK
p6mhgC&q=%22It+is+easier+to+denature+plutonium+than+it+is+to+denature+the+evil+spirit+of+man%22&pg=PA385#v=onepage),TheNewYorkTimesMagazine(June23,1946(http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?
res=F60715F63E5C14738DDDAA0A94DE405B8688F1D3))

Anewtypeofthinkingisessentialifmankindistosurviveandmovetowardhigherlevels.
From"AtomicEducationUrgedbyEinstein"(http://www.turnthetide.info/id54.htm),NewYorkTimes(25May1946),andlaterquotedinthearticle"TheRealProblemisintheHeartsofMan"byMichaelAmrine,fromtheNewYorkTimes
Magazine(23June1946).Aslightlymodifiedversionofthe23JunearticlewasreprintedinEinsteinonPeacebyOttoNathanandHeinzNorden(1960),anditwasalsoreprintedinEinsteinonPoliticsbyDavidE.RoweandRobertSchulmann
(2007),p.383.
InTheNewQuotableEinstein(2005),editorAliceCalapricesuggeststhattwoquotesattributedtoEinsteinwhichshecouldnotfindsourcesfor,"Thesignificantproblemswefacecannotbesolvedatthesamelevelofthinkingwewereatwhenwe
createdthem"and"Theworldwehavecreatedtodayasaresultofourthinkingthusfarhasproblemswhichcannotbesolvedbythinkingthewaywethoughtwhenwecreatedthem,"maybothbeparaphrasesofthe1946quoteabove.Asimilar
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 7/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
createdthem"and"Theworldwehavecreatedtodayasaresultofourthinkingthusfarhasproblemswhichcannotbesolvedbythinkingthewaywethoughtwhenwecreatedthem,"maybothbeparaphrasesofthe1946quoteabove.Asimilar
unsourcedvariantis"Theworldwehavecreatedisaproductofourthinkingitcannotbechangedwithoutchangingourthinking."
Inthe23JunearticleEinsteinexpandedsomewhatontheoriginalquotefromthe25Mayarticle:

Manypersonshaveinquiredconcerningarecentmessageofminethat"anewtypeofthinkingisessentialifmankindistosurviveandmovetohigherlevels."
Ofteninevolutionaryprocessesaspeciesmustadapttonewconditionsinordertosurvive.Todaytheatomicbombhasalteredprofoundlythenatureoftheworldasweknewit,andthehumanraceconsequentlyfindsitselfinanewhabitatto
whichitmustadaptitsthinking.
Inthelightofnewknowledge,aworldauthorityandaneventualworldstatearenotjustdesirableinthenameofbrotherhood,theyarenecessaryforsurvival.Inpreviousagesanation'slifeandculturecouldbeprotectedtosomeextentby
thegrowthofarmiesinnationalcompetition.Todaywemustabandoncompetitionandsecurecooperation.Thismustbethecentralfactinallourconsiderationsofinternationalaffairsotherwisewefacecertaindisaster.Pastthinkingand
methodsdidnotpreventworldwars.Futurethinkingmustpreventwars.

Thereleaseofatomicenergyhasnotcreatedanewproblem.Ithasmerelymademoreurgentthenecessarysolvingofanexistingone.Onecouldsayithasaffectedusquantitatively,notqualitatively.
From"EinsteinontheAtomicBomb,"part1,aninterviewbyRaymondSwinginAtlanticMonthly(November1945).QuotedinTheNewQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice,p.168thisalsoappearsinIdeasandOpinionsinthesection
"AtomicWarorPeace".

Aslongastherearesovereignnationspossessinggreatpower,warisinevitable.
From"EinsteinontheAtomicBomb,"part1,aninterviewbyRaymondSwinginAtlanticMonthly(November1945(http://books.google.com/books?
id=iaQGAQAAIAAJ&q=%22As+long+as+there+are+sovereign+nations+possessing+great+power+war+is+inevitable%22&pg=PA43#v=onepage))

Thepositioninwhichwearenowisaverystrangeonewhichingeneralpoliticallifeneverhappened.Namely,thethingthatIrefertoisthis:Tohavesecurityagainstatomicbombsandagainsttheotherbiologicalweapons,wehave
topreventwar,forifwecannotpreventwareverynationwilluseeverymeansthatisattheirdisposalandinspiteofallpromisestheymake,theywilldoit.Atthesametime,solongaswarisnotprevented,allthegovernmentsofthe
nationshavetoprepareforwar,andifyouhavetoprepareforwar,thenyouareinastatewhereyoucannotabolishwar.
Thisisreallythecornerstoneofoursituation.Now,Ibelievewhatweshouldtrytobringaboutisthegeneralconvictionthatthefirstthingyouhavetoabolishiswaratallcosts,andeveryotherpointofviewmustbeofsecondary
importance.
Addresstothesymposium"TheSocialTaskoftheScientistintheAtomicEra"attheInstituteforAdvancedStudyinPrinceton,NewJersey(17November1946)

Youcannotsimultaneouslypreventandprepareforwar.Theverypreventionofwarrequiresmorefaith,courageandresolutionthanareneededtoprepareforwar.Wemustalldoourshare,thatwemaybeequaltothetaskofpeace.
MessagesenttoCongressmanRobertHaleofPortland,Maine(4December1946),tobeusedataworldgovernmentmeetinginPortlandon11December.QuotedinEinsteinonPeaceeditedbyOttoNathanandHeinzNorden(1960),p.397

EristeineSkaladerProportionen,diedasSchlechteschwierigunddasGuteleichtmacht.
Itisascaleofproportionswhichmakesthebaddifficultandthegoodeasy.
OntheModulor.LettersenttoLeCorbusier(1946)quotedinModulor(1953)

HadIknownthattheGermanswouldnotsucceedinproducinganatomicbomb,Iwouldnothaveliftedafinger.
DiscussingtheletterhesentRooseveltraisingthepossibilityofatomicweapons.from"Atom:Einstein,theManWhoStartedItAll,"NewsweekMagazine(10March1947)

WhenIexaminemyselfandmymethodsofthoughtIcometotheconclusionthatthegiftoffantasyhasmeantmoretomethanmytalentforabsorbingpositiveknowledge.
CitedasconversationbetweenEinsteinandJnosPleschinJnos:TheStoryofaDoctor(1947),byJnosPlesch,translatedbyEdwardFitzGerald

Iagreewithyourremarkaboutlovingyourenemyasfarasactionsareconcerned.Butformethecognitivebasisisthetrustinanunrestrictedcausality."Icannothatehim,becausehemustdo
whathedoes."ThatmeansformemoreSpinozathantheprophets.
OntheChristianmaxim"Lovethyenemy",inalettertoMicheleBesso(6January1948)
IjustwanttoexplainwhatImeanwhenIsaythatweshouldtrytoholdontophysicalreality.
Weareallawareofthesituationregardingwhatwillturnouttobethebasicfoundationalconceptsinphysics:thepointmassortheparticleissurelynotamongthemthefield,intheFaradayMaxwellsense,
HadIknownthattheGermanswould
mightbe,butnotwithcertainty.Butthatwhichweconceiveasexisting("real")shouldsomehowbelocalizedintimeandspace.Thatis,therealinonepartofspace,A,should(intheory)somehow"exist"
notsucceedinproducinganatomic
independentlyofthatwhichisthoughtofasrealinanotherpartofspace,B.IfaphysicalsystemstretchesoverAandB,thenwhatispresentinBshouldsomehowhaveanexistenceindependentofwhatispresent
bomb,Iwouldnothavelifteda
inA.WhatisactuallypresentinBshouldthusnotdependthetypeofmeasurementcarriedoutinthepartofspaceAitshouldalsobeindependentofwhetherornotameasurementismadeinA. finger.
Ifoneadherestothisprogram,thenonecanhardlyviewthequantumtheoreticaldescriptionasacompleterepresentationofthephysicallyreal.Ifoneattempts,nevertheless,sotoviewit,thenonemustassume
thatthephysicallyrealinBundergoesasuddenchangebecauseofameasurementinA.Myphysicalinstinctsbristleatthatsuggestion.
However,ifonerenouncestheassumptionthatwhatispresentindifferentpartsofspacehasanindependent,realexistence,thenIdon'tseeatallwhatphysicsissupposedtobedescribing.Forwhatisthoughttobea"system"isafterall,just
conventional,andIdonotseehowoneissupposedtodivideuptheworldobjectivelysothatonecanmakestatementsaboutparts.
"Whatmustbeanessentialfeatureofanyfuturefundamentalphysics?"LettertoMaxBorn(March1948)publishedinAlbertEinsteinHedwigundMaxBorn(1969)"Briefwechsel191655",andinPotentiality,EntanglementandPassionat
aDistance:QuantumMechanicalStudiesforAbnerShimony,VolumeTwoeditedbyRobertCohen,MichaelHorn,andJohnStachel(1997),p.121(http://books.google.com/books?
id=DsNoIcQemTsC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA121#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Neverdoanythingagainstconscienceevenifthestatedemandsit.
AsquotedbyVirgilHenshawinAlbertEinstein:PhilosopherScientist(1949)editedbyPaulA.Schilpp

Sincethemathematicianshaveinvadedthetheoryofrelativity,Idonotunderstanditmyselfanymore.
Asquotedintheessay"ToAlbertEinstein'sSeventiethBirthday"byArnoldSommerfeld,AlbertEinstein:PhilosopherScientist(http://www.worldcat.org/title/alberteinsteinphilosopherscientist/oclc/311439)(1949)editedbyPaulA.
Schilpp(p.102).Theessay,originallypublishedas"ZumSiebzigstenGeburtstagAlbertEinsteins"inDeutscheBeitrge(EineZweimonatsschrift)(http://www.worldcat.org/title/deutschebeitrageeinezweimonatsschrift/oclc/183334232)VolIII,No
2,1949,wastranslatedspecificallyforthebookbySchilpp.

IdonotknowhowtheThirdWorldWarwillbefought,butIcantellyouwhattheywilluseintheFourthrocks!
AsquotedinaninterviewwithAlfredWerner,publishedinLiberalJudaism16(AprilMay1949),12.EinsteinArchive301104,assourcedinTheNewQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice(2005),p.173.
Differingversionsofsuchastatementareattributedtoconversationsasearlyas1948(e.g.TheRotarian,72(6),June1948,p.9(http://books.google.com/books?id=0UMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA9):"Idon'tknow.ButIcantellyouwhatthey'll
useinthefourth.They'lluserocks!").Anothervariant('IdonotknowwithwhatweaponsWorldWarIIIwillbefought,butWorldWarIVwillbefoughtwithsticksandstones')isattributedtoanunidentifiedlettertoHarryS.Trumanin"Theculture
ofEinstein"byAlexJohnson(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7406337/),MSNBC(18April2005).However,priorto1948verysimilarquoteswereattributedinvariousarticlestoanunnamedarmylieutenant,asdiscussedatQuoteInvestigator:

"TheFuturisticWeaponsofWW3AreUnknown,ButWW4WillBeFoughtWithStonesandSpears"(http://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/06/16/futureweapons/#more679).TheearliestfoundwasfromQuoteandUnquote:RaisingAlarmist
CryBringsaWinchellReplybyWalterWinchell,intheWisconsinStateJournal(23September1946),p.6,Col.3.InthisarticleWinchellwrote:

JoeLaitinreportsthatreportersatBikiniwerequestioninganarmylieutenantaboutwhatweaponswouldbeusedinthenextwar.
Idunno,hesaid,butinthewarafterthenextwar,sureasHell,theyllbeusingspears!

Itseemsplausible,therefore,thatEinsteinmayhavebeenquotingorparaphrasinganexpressionwhichhehadheardorreadelsewhere.

Anewideacomessuddenlyandinaratherintuitiveway.Butintuitionisnothingbuttheoutcomeofearlierintellectualexperience.
LettertoDr.H.L.Gordon(May3,1949AEA58217)asquotedinEinstein:HisLifeandUniverse(2007)byWalterIsaacsonISBN9780743264730
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 8/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
LettertoDr.H.L.Gordon(May3,1949AEA58217)asquotedinEinstein:HisLifeandUniverse(2007)byWalterIsaacsonISBN9780743264730

IhaverepeatedlysaidthatinmyopiniontheideaofapersonalGodisachildlikeone.Youmaycallmeanagnostic,butIdonotsharethecrusadingspiritoftheprofessionalatheistwhosefervorismostlyduetoapainfulactof
liberationfromthefettersofreligiousindoctrinationreceivedinyouth.Ipreferanattitudeofhumilitycorrespondingtotheweaknessofourintellectualunderstandingofnatureandofourownbeing.
LettertoGuyH.RanerJr.(28September1949),fromarticlebyMichaelR.GilmoreinSkepticmagazine,Vol.5,No.2(1997)

Thereciprocalrelationshipofepistemologyandscienceisofnoteworthykind.Theyaredependentoneachother.Epistemologywithoutcontactwithsciencebecomesanemptyscheme.Sciencewithoutepistemologyisinsofarasitisthinkableatall
primitiveandmuddled.However,nosoonerhastheepistemologist,whoisseekingaclearsystem,foughthiswaythroughtosuchasystem,thanheisinclinedtointerpretthethoughtcontentofscienceinthesenseofhissystemandtorejectwhateverdoes
notfitintohissystem.Thescientist,however,cannotaffordtocarryhisstrivingforepistemologicalsystematicthatfar.Heacceptsgratefullytheepistemologicalconceptualanalysisbuttheexternalconditions,whicharesetforhimbythefactsof
experience,donotpermithimtolethimselfbetoomuchrestrictedintheconstructionofhisconceptualworldbytheadherencetoanepistemologicalsystem.Hethereforemustappeartothesystematicepistemologistasatypeofunscrupulousopportunist:
heappearsasrealistinsofarasheseekstodescribeaworldindependentoftheactsofperceptionasidealistinsofarashelooksupontheconceptsandtheoriesasfreeinventionsofthehumanspirit(notlogicallyderivablefromwhatisempiricallygiven)
aspositivistinsofarasheconsidershisconceptsandtheoriesjustifiedonlytotheextenttowhichtheyfurnishalogicalrepresentationofrelationsamongsensoryexperiences.HemayevenappearasPlatonistorPythagoreaninsofarasheconsidersthe
viewpointoflogicalsimplicityasanindispensibleandeffectivetoolofhisresearch.
ContributioninAlbertEinstein:PhilosopherScientist,p.A.Schilpp,ed.(TheLibraryofLivingPhilosophers,Evanston,IL(1949),p.684).QuotedinEinstein'sPhilosophyofScience(http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/einsteinphilscience/)

1950s

Strivingforpeaceandpreparingforwarareincompatiblewitheachother,andinourtimemoresothanever.
Froma16June1950U.N.radiointerview,thetranscriptofwhichappearsinthesection"ThePursuitofPeace"inhisbookIdeasandOpinions(1954)

Takenonthewhole,IwouldbelievethatGandhi'sviewswerethemostenlightenedofallthepoliticalmeninourtime.Weshouldstrivetodothingsinhisspirit...nottouseviolenceinfightingforour
cause,butbynonparticipationinwhatwebelieveisevil.
UnitedNationsradiointerview(http://streams.gandhiserve.org/einstein.html)recordedinEinstein'sstudy,Princeton,NewJersey(1950)

Ahumanbeingisapartofthewhole,calledbyus"Universe",apartlimitedintimeandspace.Heexperienceshimself,histhoughtsandfeelingsassomethingseparatedfromtherestakindofoptical
delusionofhisconsciousness.Thisdelusionisakindofprisonforus,restrictingustoourpersonaldesiresandtoaffectionforafewpersonsnearesttous.Ourtaskmustbetofreeourselvesfromthisprisonby
Strivingforpeaceandpreparingfor
wideningourcircleofcompassiontoembracealllivingcreaturesandthewholeofnatureinitsbeauty.Nobodyisabletoachievethiscompletely,butthestrivingforsuchachievementisinitselfapartofthe
warareincompatiblewitheachother,
liberationandafoundationforinnersecurity.
andinourtimemoresothanever.
Letterof1950,asquotedinTheNewYorkTimes(29March1972)andTheNewYorkPost(28November1972).However,TheNewQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice(PrincetonUniversity
Press,2005:ISBN0691120749),p.206,hasadifferentandpresumablymoreaccurateversionofthisletter,whichshedatestoFebruary12,1950anddescribesas"alettertoadistraughtfatherwhohad
losthisyoungsonandhadaskedEinsteinforsomecomfortingwords":

Ahumanbeingisapartofthewhole,calledbyus"Universe,"apartlimitedintimeandspace.Heexperienceshimself,histhoughtsandfeelingsassomethingseparatefromtherestakind
ofopticaldelusionofhisconsciousness.Thestrivingtofreeoneselffromthisdelusionistheoneissueoftruereligion.Nottonourishitbuttotrytoovercomeitisthewaytoreachtheattainable
measureofpeaceofmind.

Lettertranscriptandphotograph(http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/11/delusion.html)

Ibelievethatpipesmokingcontributestoasomewhatcalmandobjectivejudgmentinallhumanaffairs.
StatementuponjoiningtheMontrealPipeSmokersClub(1950) Gandhi'sviewswerethemost
enlightenedofallthepoliticalmenin
Ibelieve,indeed,thatoveremphasisonthepurelyintellectualattitude,oftendirectedsolelytothepracticalandfactual,inoureducation,hasleddirectlytotheimpairmentofethicalvalues.I ourtime.Weshouldstrivetodo
amnotthinkingsomuchofthedangerswithwhichtechnicalprogresshasdirectlyconfrontedmankind,asofthestiflingofmutualhumanconsiderationsbya"matteroffact"habitofthoughtwhichhascometolie thingsinhisspirit...nottouse
likeakillingfrostuponhumanrelations.Thefrightfuldilemmaofthepoliticalworldsituationhasmuchtodowiththissinofomissiononthepartofourcivilization.Without"ethicalculture,"thereisno violenceinfightingforourcause,but
salvationforhumanity. bynonparticipationinwhatwe
"TheNeedforEthicalCulture"celebratingtheseventyfifthanniversaryoftheEthicalCultureSociety,foundedbyFelixAdler(5January1951)(thefullremarkscanbefoundinIdeasandOpinionsby believeisevil.
AlbertEinsteinandCarlSeelig(http://books.google.com/books?id=UppFAAAAYAAJ))
OnethingIhavelearnedinalonglife:thatallourscience,measuredagainstreality,isprimitiveandchildlikeandyetitisthemostpreciousthingwehave.
LettertoHansMuehsam(9July1951),EinsteinArchives38408,quotedinTheUltimateQuotableEinstein(2010)byAliceCalaprice,p.404(http://books.google.com/books?
id=G_iziBAPXtEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA404#v=onepage&q&f=false)

IchhabekeinebesondereBegabung,sondernbinnurleidenschaftlichneugierig.
Ihavenospecialtalents.Iamonlypassionatelycurious.
LettertoCarlSeelig(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Seelig)(11March1952),EinsteinArchives39013

Atrulyrationaltheorywouldallowustodeducetheelementaryparticles(electron,etc.)andnotbeforcedtostatethemapriori.
LettertoMicheleBesso(10September1952),Lettern190,Correspondance,19031955(1972),byPierreSpezialiandMicheleAngeloBesso

Itisnotenoughtoteachamanaspecialty.Throughithemaybecomeakindofusefulmachinebutnotaharmoniouslydevelopedpersonality.Itisessentialthatthestudentacquireanunderstandingofandalively
feelingforvalues.Hemustacquireavividsenseofthebeautifulandofthemorallygood.Otherwisehewithhisspecializedknowledgemorecloselyresemblesawelltraineddogthanaharmoniouslydeveloped
person.Hemustlearntounderstandthemotivesofhumanbeings,theirillusions,andtheirsufferingsinordertoacquireaproperrelationshiptoindividualfellowmenandtothecommunity.These
preciousthingsareconveyedtotheyoungergenerationthroughpersonalcontactwiththosewhoteach,notoratleastnotinthemainthroughtextbooks.Itisthisthatprimarilyconstitutesandpreservesculture.
ThisiswhatIhaveinmindwhenIrecommendthe"humanities"asimportant,notjustdryspecializedknowledgeinthefieldsofhistoryandphilosophy.
"EducationforIndependentThought"inTheNewYorkTimes,5October1952.ReprintedinIdeasandOpinions(1954) Without"ethicalculture,"thereisno
salvationforhumanity.
Ithinkthatonlydaringspeculationcanleadusfurtherandnotaccumulationoffacts.
LettertoMicheleBesso(8October1952).AccordingtoScientificallyspeaking:adictionaryofquotations,Volume1(2002),p.154(http://books.google.com/books?id=FFIBzawsfPEC&lpg=PR1&pg=PA154#v=onepage&q&f=false),the
letterisreprintedonp.487ofCorrespondance19031955(1972)byMicheleBesso.

Whatleadmemoreorlessdirectlytothespecialtheoryofrelativitywastheconvictionthattheelectromotiveforceactingonabodyinmotioninamagneticfieldwasnothingelsebutanelectricfield.
LettertotheMichelsonCommemorativeMeetingoftheClevelandPhysicsSociety(1952),asquotedbyR.S.Shankland,AmJPhys32,16(1964),p35,republishedinAPFrench,SpecialRelativity,ISBN0177710756

Thestrangethingaboutgrowingoldisthattheintimateidentificationwiththehereandnowisslowlylostonefeelstransposedintoinfinity,moreorlessalone,nolongerinhopeorfear,onlyobserving.
LettertoQueenMotherElisabethofBelgium(12January1953),EinsteinArchive32405.QuotedinAlbertEinstein:CreatorandRebelbyBaneshHoffman(1973),p.261(http://books.google.com/books?
id=sdDaAAAAMAAJ&q=%22no+longer+in+hope+or+fear%22#search_anchor),andalsopartiallyquoted(withareferencetotheexactdateoftheletter)inEinstein:HisLifeandUniversebyWalterIsaacson(2007),p.536

WhatIparticularlyadmireinhimisthefirmstandhehastaken,notonlyagainsttheoppressorsofhiscountrymen,butalsoagainstthoseopportunistswhoarealwaysreadytocompromisewiththeDevil.Heperceivesveryclearlythattheworldisin
greaterperilfromthosewhotolerateorencourageevilthanfromthosewhoactuallycommitit.
Einstein'stributetoPabloCasals(30March1953),inConversationswithCasals(1957),page11,byJosepMariaCorredor,translatedfromConversationsavecPabloCasals:souvenirsetopinionsd'unmusicien(1955)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 9/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Einstein'stributetoPabloCasals(30March1953),inConversationswithCasals(1957),page11,byJosepMariaCorredor,translatedfromConversationsavecPabloCasals:souvenirsetopinionsd'unmusicien(1955)
Varianttranslationsorparaphrasing:
Theworldisadangerousplacetolive,notbecauseofthepeoplewhoareevil,butbecauseofthepeoplewhodon'tdoanythingaboutit.
AsquotedinTheHarperBookofQuotationsbyRobertI.Fitzhenry(1993),p.356(http://books.google.com/books?id=THl7kUfSqCUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA356#v=onepage&q&f=false)
Theworldisadangerousplace,notbecauseofthosewhodoevil,butbecauseofthosewholookonanddonothing.
AsquotedinConsciousCourage:TurningEverydayChallengesIntoOpportunities(2004)byMaureenStearns,p.99
Theworldwillnotbedestroyedbythosewhodoevil,butbythosewhowatchthemwithoutdoinganything.

DevelopmentofWesternScienceisbasedontwogreatachievements,theinventionoftheformallogicalsystem(inEuclideangeometry)bytheGreekphilosophers,andthediscoveryofthepossibilitytofindoutcausalrelationshipsbysystematic
experiment(Renaissance).InmyopiniononehasnottobeastonishedthattheChinesesageshavenotmadethesesteps.Theastonishingthingisthatthesediscoveriesweremadeatall.
LettertoJ.S.Switzer(23April1953),quotedinTheScientificRevolution:aHstoriographicalInquiryByH.FlorisCohen(1994),p.234(http://books.google.com/books?id=wu8b2NAqnb0C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA234#v=onepage&q&f=false),
andalsopartlyquotedinTheUltimateQuotableEinsteineditedbyAliceCalaprice(2010),p.405(http://books.google.com/books?id=G_iziBAPXtEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA405#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Itgivesmegreatpleasure,indeed,toseethestubbornnessofanincorrigiblenonconformistwarmlyacclaimed.
AppearsinIdeasandOpinionsinthesection"AddressonReceivingLord&TaylorAward"(4May1953)

Tothinkwithfearoftheendofone'slifeisprettygeneralwithhumanbeings.Itisoneofthemeansnatureusestoconservethelifeofthespecies.Approachedrationallythatfearisthemostunjustifiedofallfears,forthereisnoriskofanyaccidentstoone
whoisdeadornotyetborn.Inshort,thefearisstupidbutitcannotbehelped.
LettertoEileenDanniheisser(1953),quotedinAlbertEinstein:CreatorandRebelbyBaneshHoffman(1973),p.261(http://books.google.com/books?id=sdDaAAAAMAAJ&q=%22think+with+fear%22#search_anchor).Theexactdate,or
thenameofhiscorrespondent,isnotgiveninthesnippetofthebookavailableonline,butthequoteappearsafterthelettertotheQueenofBelgiumfrom12January1953,andisprefacedby"Ninemonthslater,inwordsthatrecallthebeliefsofan
earlyatomicspeculator,theRomanpoetLucretius,Einsteinhadwrittentoaninquirer",followedbythequote.Thename"EileenDanniheisser"isgiveninTime:Volume144,whereitismentionedinthesnippetshere
(http://books.google.com/books?id=JDAnAQAAIAAJ&q=%22obsessive+thoughts%22#search_anchor)andhere(http://books.google.com/books?id=JDAnAQAAIAAJ&q=%22think+with+fear%22#search_anchor)thatshehadwrittenEinstein
"aboutherobsessivethoughtsofdeathasachild".

Thewordgodisformenothingmorethantheexpressionandproductofhumanweaknesses,theBibleacollectionofhonourable,butstillprimitivelegendswhichareneverthelessprettychildish.Nointerpretationnomatterhowsubtlecan(forme)change
this.FormetheJewishreligionlikeallothersisanincarnationofthemostchildishsuperstitions.AndtheJewishpeopletowhomIgladlybelongandwithwhosementalityIhaveadeepaffinityhavenodifferentqualityformethanallotherpeople.Asfar
asmyexperiencegoes,theyarenobetterthanotherhumangroups,althoughtheyareprotectedfromtheworstcancersbyalackofpower.OtherwiseIcannotseeanything'chosen'aboutthem.
GutkindLetter(3January1954),"Childishsuperstition:Einstein'slettermakesviewofreligionrelativelyclear"(http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/may/12/peopleinscience.religion).TheGuardian.13May2008.

InlongintervalsIhaveexpressedanopiniononpublicissueswhenevertheyappearedtomesobadandunfortunatethatsilencewouldhavemademefeelguiltyofcomplicity.
AddresstotheChicagoDecalogueSociety(20February1954),reprintedinasectiontitled"HumanRights"inIdeasandOpinions

Itismybeliefthatthereisonlyonewaytoeliminatetheseevils,namely,theestablishmentofaplannedeconomycoupledwithaneducationgearedtowardsocialgoals.Alongsidethedevelopmentofindividualabilities,theeducationoftheindividualaspires
toreviveanidealthatisgearedtowardtheserviceofourfellowman,andthatneedstotaketheplaceoftheglorificationofpowerandoutersuccess.
"AnIdealofServicetoOurFellowMan"(http://thisibelieve.org/essay/16465/),fortheradioseriesThisIBelieve(1954?)

IfIwouldbeayoungmanagainandhadtodecidehowtomakemyliving,Iwouldnottrytobecomeascientistorscholarorteacher.Iwouldratherchoosetobeaplumberorapeddlerinthehopetofindthatmodestdegreeofindependencestill
availableunderpresentcircumstances.
LettertotheeditorofTheReporteraboutthesituationofscientistsinAmerica(13October1954)

Theideaofachievingsecuritythroughnationalarmamentis,atthepresentstateofmilitarytechnique,adisastrousillusion.
IdeasandOpinions(1954)

Thetheoryofrelativityisabeautifulexampleofthebasiccharacterofthemoderndevelopmentoftheory.Thatistosay,thehypothesesfromwhichonestartsbecomeevermoreabstractandmoreremotefromexperience.Butinreturnonecomescloserto
thepreeminentgoalofscience,thatofencompassingamaximumofempiricalcontentsthroughlogicaldeductionwithaminimumofhypothesesoraxioms.Theintellectualpathfromtheaxiomstotheempiricalcontentsortothetestableconsequences
becomes,thereby,everlongerandmoresubtle.Thetheoreticianisforced,evermore,toallowhimselftobedirectedbypurelymathematical,formalpointsofviewinthesearchfortheories,becausethephysicalexperienceofthe
experimenterisnotcapableofleadingusuptotheregionsofthehighestabstraction.Tentativedeductiontakestheplaceofthepredominantlyinductivemethodsappropriatetotheyouthfulstateofscience.Suchatheoreticalstructuremustbe
quitethoroughlyelaboratedinorderforittoleadtoconsequencesthatcanbecomparedwithexperience.Itiscertainlythecasethathere,aswell,theempiricalfactistheallpowerfuljudge.Butitsjudgmentcanbehandeddownonlyonthebasisofgreat
anddifficultintellectualeffortthatfirstbridgesthewidespacebetweentheaxiomsandthetestableconsequences.ThetheoristmustaccomplishthisHerculeantaskwiththeclearunderstandingthatthiseffortmayonlybedestinedtopreparethewayfora
deathsentenceforhistheory.Oneshouldnotreproachthetheoristwhoundertakessuchataskbycallinghimafantastinstead,onemustallowhimhisfantasizing,sinceforhimthereisnootherwaytohisgoalwhatsoever.Indeed,it
isnoplanlessfantasizing,butratherasearchforthelogicallysimplestpossibilitiesandtheirconsequences.
IdeasandOpinions(1954),pp.238239.QuotedinEinstein'sPhilosophyofScience(http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/einsteinphilscience/)

Nowhehasdepartedfromthisstrangeworldalittleaheadofme.Thatmeansnothing.Peoplelikeus,whobelieveinphysics,knowthatthedistinctionbetweenpast,present,andfutureisonlyastubbornlypersistentillusion.
LettertothefamilyofhislifelongfriendMicheleBesso,afterlearningofhisdeath(March1955),asquotedinScienceandtheSearchforGodDisturbingtheUniverse(1979)byFreemanDysonCh.17"ADistantMirror"alsoquotedat
Einstein'sGod(NPR)(http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/einsteinsgod/unheardcuts.shtml)
Sometimesmisquotedas"Realityismerelyanillusion,albeitaverypersistentone."
Variant:"Hehasdepartedfromthisstrangeworldalittleaheadofme.Thatmeansnothing.Forusbelievingphysicists,thedistinctionbetweenpast,presentandfutureisonlyastubbornillusion."QuotedinEinstein:HisLifeandUniversebyWalter
Isaacson(2008),p.540(http://books.google.com/books?id=cdxWNE7NY6QC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA540#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Variant:"Nowhehasdepartedfromthisstrangeworldalittleaheadofme.Thatsignifiesnothing.Forusbelievingphysicists,thedistinctionbetweenpast,present,andfutureisonlyastubbornlypersistentillusion."QuotedinAlbertEinstein:The
MiracleMindbyTabathaYeatts(2007),p.116(http://books.google.com/books?id=XiyyVYvQBKQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PT114#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Variant:"Inquittingthisstrangeworldhehasonceagainprecededmebyalittle.Thatdoesn'tmeananything.Forthoseofuswhobelieveinphysics,thisseparationbetweenpast,present,andfutureisonlyanillusion,howevertenacious."Quotedin
TheStructureofPhysicsbyCarlFriedrichvonWeizscker(1985),p.288(http://books.google.com/books?id=DeexONN0zDgC&lpg=PR2&pg=PA288#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Variant:"Nowhehasdepartedalittleaheadofmefromthisquaintworld.Thismeansnothing.Forusfaithfulphysicists,theseparationbetweenpast,present,andfuturehasonlythemeaningofanillusion,thoughapersistentone."QuotedinEinstein
andReligionbyMaxJammer(2002),p.161(http://books.google.com/books?id=TnCc1f1C25IC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA161#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Variant:"Nowhehasprecededmebyalittlebitinhisdeparturefromthisstrangeworldaswell.Thismeansnothing.Forthoseofuswhobelieveinphysics,thedistinctionbetweenpast,present,andfutureisonlyanillusion,howevertenaciousthis
illusionmaybe."QuotedinEinstein:ABiographybyJrgenNeff(2007),p.402(http://books.google.com/books?id=B8K6n177ZwcC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA402#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Theimportantthingisnottostopquestioning.Curiosityhasitsownreasonforexistence.Onecannothelpbutbeinawewhenhecontemplatesthemysteriesofeternity,oflife,ofthemarvelousstructureofreality.Itisenoughifonetriesmerelyto
comprehendalittleofthismysteryeachday.Neverloseaholycuriosity.Don'tstoptomarvel.
StatementtoWilliamMiller,asquotedinLIFEmagazine(2May1955)OldMan'sAdvicetoYouth:"NeverLoseaHolyCuriosity"(http://books.google.com/books?
id=dlYEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&dq=Life%2C%202%20May%201955&pg=PA61#v=onepage&q=Life,%202%20May%201955&f=false)pages6164,atpage64

Trytobecomenotamanofsuccess,buttryrathertobecomeamanofvalue.
AsquotedbyLIFEmagazine(2May1955)

DuringthatyearinAarauthequestioncametome:Ifonerunsafteralightwavewith[avelocityequaltothe]lightvelocity,thenonewouldencounteratimeindependentwavefield.However,somethinglikethatdoesnotseemtoexist!Thiswasthefirst
juvenilethoughtexperimentwhichhastodowiththespecialtheoryofrelativity.Inventionisnottheproductoflogicalthought,eventhoughthefinalproductistiedtoalogicalstructure.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 10/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
juvenilethoughtexperimentwhichhastodowiththespecialtheoryofrelativity.Inventionisnottheproductoflogicalthought,eventhoughthefinalproductistiedtoalogicalstructure.
Fromhis"AutobiographischeSkizze"(18April1955),originalGermanversionhere(http://philoscience.unibe.ch/documents/kursarchiv/WS99/Skizze.pdf).TranslationfromSubtleistheLord:TheScienceandtheLifeofAlbertEinsteinby
AbrahamPais(1982),p.131(http://books.google.com/books?id=U2mO4nUunuwC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA131#v=onepage&q&f=false).Paisnotesthatwhenhesaid"duringthatyear",hewasreferringtosometimebetweenOctober1895andearly

fall1896.
Variant:"Innovationisnottheproductoflogicalthought,eventhoughthefinalproductistiedtoalogicalstructure."
OriginalGermanversion:WhrenddiesesJahresinAaraukammirdieFrage:WennmaneinerLichtwellemitLichtgeschwindigkeitnachluft,sowrdemaneinzeitunabhngigesWellenfeldvorsichhaben.Soetwasscheintesaber
dochnichtzugeben!DieswardaserstekindlicheGedankenExperiment,dasmitderspeziellenRelativittstheoriezutunhat.DasErfindenistkeinWerkdeslogischenDenkens,wennauchdasEndproduktandielogischeGestalt
gebundenist.("AutobiographischeSkizze",p.10)

Theworkonsatisfactoryformulationoftechnicalpatentswasatrueblessingforme.Itcompelledmetobemanysidedinthought,andalsoofferedimportantstimulationforthoughtaboutphysics.Followingapracticalprofessionisablessingforpeopleof
mytype.Becausetheacademiccareerputsayoungpersoninasortofcompulsorysituationtoproducescientificpapersinimpressivequantity,atemptationtosuperficialityarisesthatonlystrongcharactersareabletoresist.
Fromhis"AutobiographischeSkizze"(18April1955),originalGermanversionhere(http://philoscience.unibe.ch/documents/kursarchiv/WS99/Skizze.pdf).TranslationfromEinsteinfrom'B'to'Z'byJohnJ.Stachel(2001),p.5
(http://books.google.com/books?id=OAsQ_hFjhrAC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Variant:"Workingonthefinalformulationoftechnologicalpatentswasaveritableblessingforme.Itenforcedmanysidedthinkingandalsoprovidedimportantstimulitophysicalthought.[Academia]placesayoungpersonunderakindof
compulsiontoproduceimpressivequantitiesofscientificpublicationsatemptationtosuperficiality."Asquotedin"WhoKnew?"(http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0505/resources_who.html)atNationalGeographic.com(May2005).
OriginalGermanversion:FormulierungtechnischerPatenteeinwahrerSegenfrmich.SiezwangzuvielseitigemDenken,botauchwichtigeAnregungenfrdasphysikalischeDenken.EndlichisteinpraktischerBeruffrMenschen
meinerArtberhaupteinSegen.DenndieakademischeLaufbahnversetzteinenjungenMenschenineineArtZwangslage,wissenschaftlicheSchrifteninimpressiverMengezuproduziereneineVerfhrungzurOberflchlichkeit,
dernurstarkeCharakterezuwiderstehenvermgen.("AutobiographischeSkizze",p.12)

Thatissimplemyfriend:becausepoliticsismoredifficultthanphysics.
Responsetobeingaskedwhypeoplecoulddiscoveratomicpower,butnotthemeanstocontrolit,asquotedinTheNewYorkTimes(22April1955)

Einer,dernurZeitungenliestund,wenn'shochkommt,BcherzeitgenssischerAutoren,kommtmirvorwieeinhochgradigKurzsichtiger,deresverschmht,Augenglserzutragen.EristvlligabhngigvondenvorurteilenundModen
seinerZeit,dennerbekommtnichtsandereszusehenundzuhren.UndwaseinerselbstndigdenktohneAnlehnungandasDenkenundErlebenanderer,istauchimbestenFalleZiemlichrmlichundmonoton.
Translation:Somebodywhoreadsonlynewspapersandatbestbooksofcontemporaryauthorsappearstomelikeanextremelynearsightedpersonwhoscornseyeglasses.Heiscompletelydependentontheprejudicesandfashionsofhistimes,
sincehenevergetstoseeorhearanythingelse.Andwhatapersonthinksonhisown,withoutbeingstimulatedbythethoughtsandexperiencesofotherpeople,is,similarly,eveninthebestcaseratherpaltryandmonotonous.
ArticleinDerJungkaufmann,April1952(http://www.archive.org/stream/alberteinstein_03_reel03#page/n302/mode/1up),EinsteinArchives28972

Attributedinposthumouspublications

Posthumousquotescanbeparticularlyproblematic,especiallywhereearliersourcesarenotcitedatall.

ImadeonegreatmistakeinmylifewhenIsignedthatlettertoPresidentRooseveltrecommendingthatatombombsbemadebuttherewassomejustificationthedangerthattheGermanswouldmakethem!
WrittenbyLinusPaulinginhisdiaryafteraconversationwithEinstein(16November1954).QuotedinTheNewQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice(2005),p.175.CalapricewritesthatthequotewascopieddirectlyfromPauling'sdiary.
Variant:"ImadeonemistakeinmylifewhenIsignedthatlettertoPresidentRooseveltadvocatingthatthebombshouldbebuilt.ButperhapsIcanbeforgivenforthatbecauseweallfeltthattherewasahighprobabilitythattheGermanswere
workingonthisproblemandthattheymightsucceedandusetheatomicbombtobecomethemasterrace."AppearsinTheExpandedQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice(2000),p.185.However,inTheNewQuotableEinsteinCalaprice
writes"Thelongerversionquotedinthepreviouseditionsofthisbook(copiedfromsecondarysources)isnotinthediary."

WhenIexaminemyselfandmymethodsofthoughtIcometotheconclusionthatthegiftoffantasyhasmeantmoretomethanmytalentforabsorbingpositiveknowledge.
AcommentrecalledbyJnosPleschinJnos,theStoryofaDoctor(1947),p.207.AlsoquotedinEinstein:theLifeandTimesbyRonaldW.Clark(1971),p.118(http://books.google.com/books?
id=6IKVA0lY6MAC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA118#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Variant:"WhenIexaminemyselfandmymethodsofthought,Icomeclosetotheconclusionthatthegiftofimaginationhasmeantmoretomethanmytalentforabsorbingabsoluteknowledge."FromTheUltimateQuotableEinsteinbyAlice
Calaprice(2010),p.26(http://books.google.com/books?id=G_iziBAPXtEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA26#v=onepage&q&f=false).ThisbookattributesittoEinsteinandtheHumanities(1979)byDennisRyan,p.125,butCalapriceseemstohave
copieditwrong,sincesearching"insidethebook"onthisbook'samazonpage(http://www.amazon.com/EinsteinHumanitiesContributionsDennisRyan/dp/0313253803)usingtheword"gift"showsthatp.125actuallygivesthesamequoteasin
Jnos,theStoryofaDoctor.

Goddoesnotcareaboutourmathematicaldifficulties.Heintegratesempirically.
AttributedtoEinsteinbyhiscolleagueLopoldInfeldinhisbookQuest:AnAutobiography(1949),p.279(http://books.google.com/books?id=fsvXYpOSowkC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA279#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Ispeaktoeveryoneinthesameway,whetherheisthegarbagemanorthepresidentoftheuniversity.
AttributedtoEinsteinbyhiscolleagueLopoldInfeldinhisbookQuest:AnAutobiography(1949),p.291(http://books.google.com/books?id=fsvXYpOSowkC&q=%22garbage+man%22#v=snippet&q=%22garbage%20man%22&f=false)

Yes,wenowhavetodivideupourtimelikethat,betweenpoliticsandourequations.Buttomeourequationsarefarmoreimportant,forpoliticsareonlyamatterofpresentconcern.Amathematicalequationstandsforever.
EarliestsourcelocatedisthebookBrighterthanaThousandSuns:APersonalHistoryoftheAtomicScientistsbyRobertJungk(1958),p.249,whichsaysthatEinsteinmadethecommentduring"awalkwithErnstStraus,ayoung
mathematicianactingashisscientificassistantatPrinceton."
Variant:"Equationsaremoreimportanttome,becausepoliticsisforthepresent,butanequationissomethingforeternity."FromABrieferHistoryofTimebyStephenHawking(2005),p.144(http://books.google.com/books?
id=4Y0ZBW19n_YC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA144#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Earlier,StrausrecalledtheGermanversionofthequoteinHelleZeit,DunkleZeit:InMemoriamAlbertEinstein(1956)editedbyCarlSeelig,p.71.TherethequotewasgivenasJa,somumanseineZeitzwischenderPolitikundunseren
Gleichungenteilen.AberunsereGleichungensindmirdochvielwichtigerdenndiePolitikistfrdieGegenwartda,abersolcheineGleichungisetwasfrdieEwigkeit.

Wasmicheigentlichinteressiert,ist,obGottdieWelthtteandersmachenknnendasheisst,obdieForderungderlogischenEinfachheitberhaupteineFreiheitlsst.
QuotedbyErnstG.Straus,whowasEinstein'sassistantfrom1944to1948,inCarlSeelig,HelleZeitDunkelZeit(EuropaVerlag,Zurich,1956),p.72
WhatIamreallyinterestedinisknowingwhetherGodcouldhavecreatedtheworldinadifferentwayinotherwords,whethertherequirementoflogicalsimplicityadmitsamarginoffreedom.
AstranslatedinMaxJammer,EinsteinandReligion(PrincetonUniversityPress,1999),p.124
WhatI'mreallyinterestediniswhetherGodcouldhavemadetheworldinadifferentwaythatis,whetherthenecessityoflogicalsimplicityleavesanyfreedomatall.
AstranslatedinGeraldHolton,TheScientificImagination:CaseStudies(CambridgeUniversityPress,1978),p.xii

HowithappenedthatIinparticulardiscoveredtherelativitytheory,itseemedtolieinthefollowingcircumstance.Thenormaladultneverbothershisheadaboutspacetimeproblems.Everythingthereistobethoughtaboutit,inhisopinion,hasalready
beendoneinearlychildhood.I,onthecontrary,developedsoslowlythatIonlybegantowonderaboutspaceandtimewhenIwasalreadygrownup.InconsequenceIprobeddeeperintotheproblemthananordinarychildwouldhavedone.
InCarlSeelig'sAlbertEinstein:ADocumentaryBiography(1956),SeeligreportsthatEinsteinsaidthistoJamesFranck,p.71(http://books.google.com/books?id=VCbPAAAAMAAJ&q=%22how+it+happened%22#search_anchor).
IsometimesaskmyselfhowdiditcomethatIwastheonetodevelopthetheoryofrelativity.Thereason,Ithink,isthatanormaladultneverstopstothinkaboutproblemsofspaceandtime.Butmyintellectualdevelopmentwasretarded,asaresult
ofwhichIbegantowonderaboutspaceandtimeonlywhenIhadalreadygrownup.Naturally,Icouldgodeeperintotheproblemthanachildwithnormalabilities.
VarianttranslationwhichappearsinEinstein:TheLifeandTimesbyRonaldW.Clark(1971),p.27(http://books.google.com/books?id=6IKVA0lY6MAC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA27#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Yousee,whenablindbeetlecrawlsoverthesurfaceofaglobehedoesn'tnoticethatthetrackhehascoverediscurved.Iwasluckyenoughtohavespottedit.
AttributedtoEinsteininCarlSeelig'sAlbertEinstein:ADocumentaryBiography(1956),p.80(http://books.google.com/books?id=VCbPAAAAMAAJ&q=%22blind+beetle%22#search_anchor).Saidtohavebeenacommenthemadetohis
sonEduardwhenEduardaskedhim,atage9,"Whyareyouactuallysofamous,papa?"

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 11/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote

No,thistrickwon'twork.Thesametrickdoesnotworktwice.Howonearthareyouevergoingtoexplainintermsofchemistryandphysicssoimportantabiologicalphenomenonasfirstlove?
AcommenttoT.H.Morgan,asrecalledbyHenryBorsook.EinsteinwasvisitingCalTechwhereMorganandBorsookworked,andMorganexplainedtoEinsteinthathewastryingtobringphysicsandchemistrytobearontheproblemsof
biology,towhichEinsteingavethisresponse.Borsook'srecollectionwaspublishedinSymposiumonStructureofEnzymesandProteins(1956),p.284(http://books.google.com/books?
id=H4QjXb4gnEIC&q=%22so+important+a+biological%22#search_anchor),aspartofapiecetitled"Informalremarks'bywayofasummary'".ContextforthisstoryisalsogiveninTheMolecularVisionofLifebyLilyE.Kay(1993),p.95
(http://books.google.com/books?id=vEHeNI2a8OEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA95#v=onepage&q&f=false)

AsfarasI'mconcernedIprefersilentvicetoostentatiousvirtue.
AttributedtoEinsteininAlbertEinstein:ADocumentaryBiographybyCarlSeeling(1956),p.114(http://books.google.com/books?id=VCbPAAAAMAAJ&q=%22silent+vice%22#search_anchor).Einsteinissaidtohavemadethisremark
"whensomeoneinhiscompanygrewangryaboutamutualacquaintance'smoraldecline".

Thehardestthingintheworldtounderstandisincometaxes.
AttributedbyhisfriendLeoMattersdorf,whoalsosaidthat"FromthetimeProfessorEinsteincametothiscountryuntilhisdeath,Ipreparedhisincometaxreturnsandadvisedhimonhistaxproblems."InalettertoTimemagazine,22February
1963.SeethispostfromTheQuoteInvestigator(http://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/03/07/einsteinincometaxes/#more2031)formorebackground.

Inthematterofphysics,thefirstlessonsshouldcontainnothingbutwhatisexperimentalandinterestingtosee.Aprettyexperimentisinitselfoftenmorevaluablethantwentyformulaeextractedfromourminds.
ConversationswithEinsteinbyAlexanderMoszkowski(1971),p.69(http://books.google.com/books?id=_D3wAAAAIAAJ&q=%22first+lessons+should+contain+nothing+but+what%22#search_anchor).ThisisjustMoszkowski'sEnglish
translationofastatementheattributedtoEinsteininhis1922bookEinstein,EinblickeinseineGedankenwelt,p.77(http://books.google.com/books?id=6zHPAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA77#v=onepage&q&f=false):"WasdiePhysikbetrifft,fuhr
Einsteinfort,sodarffrdenerstenUnterrichtgarnichtsinFragekommen,alsdasExperimentelle,anschaulichInteressante.EinhbschesExperimentistschonansichoftwertvoller,alszwanziginderGedankenretorteentwickelteFormeln."As
MoszkowskimakesclearintheoriginalGermantext,this"quotation"isaparaphrasingofhisconversationwithEinstein.

Thedevilhasputapenaltyonallthingsweenjoyinlife.Eitherwesufferinourhealth,orwesufferinoursoul,orwegetfat.
AttributedinEinstein:TheLifeandTimesbyRonaldW.Clark(1971),p.737.Theonlysourcegivenintheendnotesis"personalinformation".Einsteinissaidtohavemadethiscommentwhenaboxofcandywasbeingpassedaroundafter
dinner,andhesaidthathisdoctorwouldn'tlethimeatit.Thebookalsosaysthat'AfriendaskedhimwhyitwasthedevilandnotGodwhohadimposedthepenalty."What'sthedifference?"heanswered."Onehasaplusinfront,theothera
minus."'.

Ilovetotravel,butIhatetoarrive.
AcommentofEinstein'srecalledbyJohnWheelerinAlbertEinstein:Hisinfluenceonphysics,philosophyandpoliticseditedbyPeterC.Aichelburg,RomanUlrichSexl,andPeterGabrielBergmann(1979),p.202

Whenamansitswithaprettygirlforanhour,itseemslikeaminute.Butlethimsitonahotstoveforaminuteandit'slongerthananyhour.That'srelativity.
AnexplanationofrelativitywhichhegavetohissecretaryHelenDukastoconveytononscientistsandreporters,asquotedinBestQuotesof'54,'55,l56(1957)byJamesB.SimpsonalsoinExpandableQuotableEinstein(2005)editedby
AliceCalaprice
WilliamHermannsrecordedaseriesoffourconversationshehadwithEinsteinandpublishedtheminhisbookEinsteinandthePoet(1983),quotingEinsteinsayingthisvariantina1948conversation:"Tosimplifytheconceptofrelativity,I
alwaysusethefollowingexample:ifyousitwithagirlonagardenbenchandthemoonisshining,thenforyouthehourwillbeaminute.However,ifyousitonahotstove,theminutewillbeanhour."(p.87
(http://books.google.com/books?id=QXCyjj6T5ZUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA87#v=onepage&q&f=false))
Inthe1985bookEinsteininAmerica,JamieSayenwrote"Einsteindevisedthefollowingexplanationforher[HelenDukas]togivewhenaskedtoexplainrelativity:Anhoursittingwithaprettygirlonaparkbenchpasseslikeaminute,butaminute

sittingonahotstoveseemslikeanhour."(p.130(http://books.google.com/books?ei=yma3TsDWK8WciQL63smAAQ&ct=bookthumbnail&id=vs3aAAAAMAAJ&dq=sayen+%22einstein+in+america%22&q=pretty+girl#search_anchor))

OnquantumtheoryIuseupmorebraingrease(roughtranslationofGermanidiom)thanonrelativity.
QuotedbyOttoStern,acolleagueofEinsteininZurichfrom1912to1914,ina1962oralhistoryinterview(http://www.aip.org/history/ohilist/4904.html)withThomasS.Kuhn

InviewofsuchharmonyinthecosmoswhichI,withmylimitedhumanmind,amabletorecognise,thereareyetpeoplewhosaythereisnoGod.Butwhatmakesmereallyangryisthattheyquotemeforsupportofsuchviews.
StatementtoGermanantiNazidiplomatandauthorPrinceHubertuszuLowensteinaround1941,asquotedinhisbookTowardstheFurtherShore:AnAutobiography(1968)

Muchlater,whenIwasdiscussingcosmologicalproblemswithEinstein,heremarkedthattheintroductionofthecosmologicaltermwasthebiggestblunderheevermadeinhislife.
GeorgeGamow,inhisautobiographyMyWorldLine:AnInformalAutobiography(1970),p.44.Herethe"cosmologicalterm"referstothecosmologicalconstantintheequationsofgeneralrelativity,whosevalueEinsteininitiallypickedtoensure
thathismodeloftheuniversewouldneitherexpandnorcontractifhehadn'tdonethishemighthavetheoreticallypredictedtheuniversalexpansionthatwasfirstobservedbyEdwinHubble.

Weoftendiscussedhisnotionsonobjectivereality.IrecallthatduringonewalkEinsteinsuddenlystopped,turnedtomeandaskedwhetherIreallybelievedthatthemoonexistsonlywhenIlookatit.
AsrecalledbyhisbiographerAbrahamPaisinReviewsofModernPhysics,51,863(1979):907.CitedinBoojumsAllTheWayThroughbyN.DavidMermin(1990),p.81(http://books.google.com/books?
id=bf5bjBk095UC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA81#v=onepage&q&f=false)

ThenIwouldhavefeltsorryforthedearLord.Thetheoryiscorrect.
WhenaskedbyastudentwhathewouldhavedoneifSirArthurEddington'sfamous1919gravitationallensingexperiment,whichconfirmedrelativity,hadinsteaddisprovedit.
AsquotedinRealityandScientificTruth:DiscussionswithEinstein,vonLaue,andPlanck(1980)byIlseRosenthalSchneider,p.74
Variant:"IwouldhavefeltsorryforthedearLord!Thetheoryis,ofcourse,allright."QuotedinThePhysicist'sConceptionofNaturebyJagdishMehra(1979),p.131(http://books.google.com/books?id=lSoRzxFye
4C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA131#v=onepage&q&f=false).ThissourceattributesittoaconversationwithIlseRosenthalSchneider,authorofthebookthepreviousversionisfrom.

Dimensionlessconstantsinthelawsofnature,whichfromthepurelylogicalpointofviewcanjustaswellhavedifferentvalues,shouldnotexist.
Germanorgiginal:DimensionsloseKonstantenindenNaturgesetzen,dievomreinlogischenStandpunktausebensogutandereWertehabenknnen,drfteesnichtgeben.
AsquotedinBegegnungenmitEinstein,vonLaue,undPlanck(1988)byIlseRosenthalSchneider,p.31,EnglisheditionRealityandScientificTruth:DiscussionswithEinstein,vonLaue,andPlanck(1980)byIlseRosenthalSchneider

Ifyouwanttoliveahappylife,tieittoagoal,nottopeopleorobjects.
AsquotedbyErnstStrausinEinstein:ACentenaryVolumebyA.P.French(1980),p.32.
Variant:"ifyouwanttobeahappyman,youshouldtieyourlifetoagoal,nottootherpeopleandnottothings."AquotefromErnstStraus'memoirofEinsteininAlbertEinstein:HistoricalandCulturalPerspectiveseditedbyGeraldHoltonand
YehudaElkana(1982),p.420(http://books.google.com/books?id=CNuwE3NL1QgC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA420#v=onepage&q&f=false)

IfIcan'tpictureit,Ican'tunderstandit.
AttributedtoEinsteinbyphysicistJohnArchibaldWheelerinJohnHorgan'sarticle"Profile:PhysicistJohnA.Wheeler,Questioningthe'ItfromBit'".ScientificAmerican,pp.3637,June1991.Reprintedhere
(http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=pioneeringphysicistjohnwheelerdies)afterWheeler'sdeath.

Isaidbefore,themostbeautifulandmostprofoundreligiousemotionthatwecanexperienceisthesensationofthemystical.Andthismysticalityisthepowerofalltruescience.IfthereisanysuchconceptasaGod,itisasubtlespirit,notanimageofa
manthatsomanyhavefixedintheirminds.Inessence,myreligionconsistsofahumbleadmirationforthisillimitablesuperiorspiritthatrevealsitselfintheslightdetailsthatweareabletoperceivewithourfrailandfeebleminds.
AsquotedinThePrivateAlbertEinstein(1992)byPeterA.BuckyandAllenG.Weakland,p.86

ThephysicistssaythatIamamathematician,andthemathematicianssaythatIamaphysicist.Iamacompletelyisolatedmanandthougheverybodyknowsme,thereareveryfewpeoplewhoreallyknowme.
StatementrecordedinthediaryofhiscompanionJohannaFantova,quotedattheendoftheNewYorkTimesstory"FromCompanion'sLostDiary,APortraitofEinsteininOldAge"(http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/24/nyregion/from
companionslostdiaryaportraitofeinsteininoldage.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm)byDennisOverbye(24April2004)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 12/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
companionslostdiaryaportraitofeinsteininoldage.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm)byDennisOverbye(24April2004)

EvenonthemostsolemnoccasionsIgotawaywithoutwearingsocksandhidthatlackofcivilisationinhighboots.
AlbertEinsteininalettertohiscousinandsecondwifeElsa,duringavisittotheUniversityofOxford,incollectiondonatedtotheHebrewUniversityofJerusaleminIsraelbyEinstein'sstepdaughterMargot,asquotedin"Einsteininnosockshock"
(http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn9555&feedId=onlinenews_rss20),NewScientist(15July2006)

PrinciplesofResearch(1918)

AddressatthePhysicalSociety,Berlin,forMaxPlanck's60thbirthday(http://www.site.uottawa.ca/~yymao/misc/Einstein_PlanckBirthday.html)

Inthetempleofsciencearemanymansions,andvariousindeedaretheythatdwellthereinandthemotivesthathaveledthemthither.Manytaketoscienceoutofajoyfulsenseofsuperiorintellectualpowerscienceistheirownspecialsport
towhichtheylookforvividexperienceandthesatisfactionofambitionmanyothersaretobefoundinthetemplewhohaveofferedtheproductsoftheirbrainsonthisaltarforpurelyutilitarianpurposes.WereanangeloftheLordtocomeanddriveall
thepeoplebelongingtothesetwocategoriesoutofthetemple,theassemblagewouldbeseriouslydepleted,buttherewouldstillbesomemen,ofbothpresentandpasttimes,leftinside.OurPlanckisoneofthem,andthatiswhywe
lovehim.
Iamquiteawarethatwehavejustnowlightheartedlyexpelledinimaginationmanyexcellentmenwhoarelargely,perhapschiefly,responsibleforthebuildingsofthetempleofscienceandinmanycasesourangelwouldfinditaprettyticklishjobto
decide.ButofonethingIfeelsure:ifthetypeswehavejustexpelledweretheonlytypestherewere,thetemplewouldneverhavecometobe,anymorethanaforestcangrowwhichconsistsofnothingbutcreepers.Forthesepeopleanysphereofhuman
activitywilldo,ifitcomestoapointwhethertheybecomeengineers,officers,tradesmen,orscientistsdependsoncircumstances.
Nowletushaveanotherlookatthosewhohavefoundfavorwiththeangel.Mostofthemaresomewhatodd,uncommunicative,solitaryfellows,reallylesslikeeachother,inspiteofthesecommoncharacteristics,thanthehostsofthe
rejected.Whathasbroughtthemtothetemple?Thatisadifficultquestionandnosingleanswerwillcoverit.

Thestateofmindwhichenablesamantodoworkofthiskindisakintothatofthereligiousworshiperortheloverthedailyeffortcomesfromnodeliberateintentionorprogram,butstraightfromtheheart.

Mantriestomakeforhimselfinthefashionthatsuitshimbestasimplifiedandintelligiblepictureoftheworldhethentriestosomeextenttosubstitutethiscosmosofhisfortheworldof
experience,andthustoovercomeit.Thisiswhatthepainter,thepoet,thespeculativephilosopher,andthenaturalscientistdo,eachinhisownfashion.Eachmakesthiscosmosanditsconstruction
thepivotofhisemotionallife,inordertofindinthiswaythepeaceandsecuritywhichhecannotfindinthenarrowwhirlpoolofpersonalexperience.
Varianttranslation:Oneofthestrongestmotivesthatleadmentoartandscienceisescapefromeverydaylifewithitspainfulcrudityandhopelessdreariness,fromthefettersofone'sownevershifting
desires.Afinelytemperednaturelongstoescapefromthepersonallifeintotheworldofobjectiveperceptionandthought.Withthisnegativemotivegoesapositiveone.Manseekstoformforhimself,in
whatevermannerissuitableforhim,asimplifiedandlucidimageoftheworld,andsotoovercometheworldofexperiencebystrivingtoreplaceittosomeextentbythisimage.Thisis
whatthepainterdoes,andthepoet,thespeculativephilosopher,thenaturalscientist,eachinhisownway.Intothisimageanditsformation,heplacesthecenterofgravityofhis
emotionallife,inordertoattainthepeaceandserenitythathecannotfindwithinthenarrowconfinesofswirlingpersonalexperience.
AsquotedinTheProfessor,theInstitute,andDNA(1976)byReneDubosalsoinTheGreatInfluenza(2004)byJohnM.Barry

Thesupremetaskofthephysicististoarriveatthoseuniversalelementarylawsfromwhichthecosmoscanbebuiltupbypurededuction.Thereisnologicalpathtotheselawsonlyintuition,
restingonsympatheticunderstandingofexperience,canreachthem.Inthismethodologicaluncertainty,onemightsupposethattherewereanynumberofpossiblesystemsoftheoreticalphysicsallequally
welljustifiedandthisopinionisnodoubtcorrect,theoretically.Butthedevelopmentofphysicshasshownthatatanygivenmoment,outofallconceivableconstructions,asingleonehasalwaysproveditself
decidedlysuperiortoalltherest.
Variant,fromPrefacetoMaxPlanck'sWhereisScienceGoing?(1933):Thesupremetaskofthephysicististhediscoveryofthemostgeneralelementarylawsfromwhichtheworldpicturecanbe
deducedlogically.Butthereisnologicalwaytothediscoveryoftheseelementallaws.Thereisonlythewayofintuition,whichishelpedbyafeelingfortheorderlyingbehindtheappearance,andthis
Einfhlung[literally,empathyor'feelingone'swayin']'isdevelopedbyexperience.

SidelightsonRelativity(1922) Inthetempleofsciencearemany
mansions,andvariousindeedarethey
SidelightsonRelativity(1922),translationbyGBJeffreyandWPerrettof"therundRelativittstheorie"(AetherandRelativityTheory),atalkgivenon5May1920attheUniversityofLeiden,and"GeometrieundErfahrung"(Geometry thatdwellthereinandthemotivesthat
andExperience),alecturegivenatthePrussianAcademypublishedinSitzungsberichtederPreussischenAkademiederWissenschaften,1921(pt.1),pp.123130
haveledthemthither.

Howcanitbethatmathematics,beingafterallaproductofhumanthoughtwhichisindependentofexperience,issoadmirablyappropriatetotheobjectsofreality?Ishumanreason,then,withoutexperience,
merelybytakingthought,abletofathomthepropertiesofrealthings?

Onereasonwhymathematicsenjoysspecialesteem,aboveallothersciences,isthatitslawsareabsolutelycertainandindisputable,whilethoseofothersciencesaretosomeextentdebatableandinconstant
dangerofbeingoverthrownbynewlydiscoveredfacts.

InsofernsichdieStzederMathematikaufdieWirklichkeitbeziehen,sindsienichtsicher,undinsofernsiesichersind,beziehensiesichnichtaufdieWirklichkeit.[3](http://books.google.com/books?
id=QF0ON71WuxEC&q=%22Insofern+sich+die+S%C3%A4tze+der+Mathematik+auf+die%22&pg=PA3#v=onepage)[4](http://books.google.com/books?
id=QF0ON71WuxEC&q=%22beziehen+sind+sie+nicht+sicher+und+insofern+sie+sicher+sind+beziehen+sie+sich+nicht+auf+die+Wirklichkeit%22&pg=PA4#v=onepage)
Translation:Asfarasthelawsofmathematicsrefertoreality,theyarenotcertainandasfarastheyarecertain,theydonotrefertoreality.

Viereckinterview(1929)

"WhatLifeMeanstoEinstein:AnInterviewbyGeorgeSylvesterViereck"TheSaturdayEveningPost(26October1929),p.17.Ascanofthearticleisavailableonlinehere(http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/wp
content/uploads/satevepost/what_life_means_to_einstein.pdf).

Themeaningofrelativityhasbeenwidelymisunderstood.Philosophersplaywiththeword,likeachildwithadoll.Relativity,asIseeit,merelydenotesthatcertainphysicalandmechanicalfacts,whichhavebeen Thestateofmindwhichenablesa
regardedaspositiveandpermanent,arerelativewithregardtocertainotherfactsinthesphereofphysicsandmechanics.Itdoesnotmeanthateverythinginlifeisrelativeandthatwehavetherighttoturnthe mantodoworkofthiskindisakinto
wholeworldmischievouslytopsyturvy. thatofthereligiousworshiperorthe
loverthedailyeffortcomesfromno
Nomancanvisualizefourdimensions,exceptmathematicallyIthinkinfourdimensions,butonlyabstractly.Thehumanmindcanpicturethesedimensionsnomorethanitcanenvisageelectricity.Nevertheless, deliberateintentionorprogram,but
theyarenolessrealthanelectromagnetism,theforcewhichcontrolsouruniverse,within,andbywhichwehaveourbeing. straightfromtheheart.

Sometimesonepaysmostforthethingsonegetsfornothing.
QuotedinTheUltimateQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalaprice(2010),p.230
Irefusetomakemoneyoutofmyscience.Mylaurelisnotforsalelikesomanybalesofcotton.

IfIwerenotaphysicist,Iwouldprobablybeamusician.Ioftenthinkinmusic.Ilivemydaydreamsinmusic.Iseemylifeintermsofmusic.IcannottellifIwouldhavedoneanycreative
workofimportanceinmusic,butIdoknowthatIgetmostjoyinlifeoutofmyviolin.

Readingafteracertainagedivertsthemindtoomuchfromitscreativepursuits.Anymanwhoreadstoomuchanduseshisownbraintoolittlefallsintolazyhabitsofthinking,justastheman
whospendstoomuchtimeinthetheateristemptedtobecontentwithlivingvicariouslyinsteadoflivinghisownlife.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 13/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
OurtimeisGothicinitsspirit.UnliketheRenaissance,itisnotdominatedbyafewoutstandingpersonalities.Thetwentiethcenturyhasestablishedthedemocracyoftheintellect.Intherepublicofartandscience
therearemanymenwhotakeanequallyimportantpartintheintellectualmovementsofourage.Itistheepochratherthantheindividualthatisimportant.ThereisnoonedominantpersonalitylikeGalileoor
Newton.Eveninthenineteenthcenturytherewerestillafewgiantswhoouttoppedallothers.Todaythegenerallevelismuchhigherthaneverbeforeinthehistoryoftheworld,buttherearefewmenwhosestature
immediatelysetsthemapartfromallothers. Iamenoughofanartisttodraw
freelyuponmyimagination.
InAmerica,morethananywhereelse,theindividualislostintheachievementsofthemany.Americaisbeginningtobetheworldleaderinscientificinvestigation.Americanscholarshipisbothpatientandinspiring. Imaginationismoreimportantthan
TheAmericansshowanunselfishdevotiontoscience,whichistheveryoppositeoftheconventionalEuropeanviewofyourcountrymen.ToomanyofuslookuponAmericansasdollarchasers.Thisisa knowledge.Knowledgeislimited.
cruellibel,evenifitisreiteratedthoughtlesslybytheAmericansthemselves.ItisnottruethatthedollarisanAmericanfetish.TheAmericanstudentisnotinterestedindollars,noteveninsuccessassuch, Imaginationencirclestheworld.
butinhistask,theobjectofthesearch.Itishispainstakingapplicationtothestudyoftheinfinitelylittleandtheinfinitelylargewhichaccountsforhissuccessinastronomy.

Weareinclinedtooveremphasizethematerialinfluencesinhistory.TheRussiansespeciallymakethismistake.Intellectualvaluesandethnicinfluences,traditionandemotionalfactorsareequallyimportant.Ifthis
werenotthecase,Europewouldtodaybeafederatedstate,notamadhouseofnationalism.

Bolshevismisanextraordinaryexperiment.Itisnotimpossiblethatthedriftofsocialevolutionhenceforwardmaybeinthedirectionofcommunism.TheBolshevistexperimentmaybeworthtrying.ButIthinkthat
Russiaerrsbadlyintheexecutionofherideal.TheRussiansmakethemistakeofputtingpartyfaithaboveefficiency.Theyreplaceefficientmenbypoliticians.Theirteststoneofpublicserviceisnotthe
accomplishmentbutdevotiontoarigidcreed.

Iamadeterminist.Assuch,Idonotbelieveinfreewill.TheJewsbelieveinfreewill.Theybelievethatmanshapeshisownlife.Irejectthatdoctrinephilosophically.InthatrespectIamnotaJew.
QuotedinEinstein:HisLifeandUniverse(http://books.google.com/books?id=dJMpQagbz_gC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA387#v=onepage&q&f=false)byWalterIsaacson,p.387

IbelievewithSchopenhauer:Wecandowhatwewish,butwecanonlywishwhatwemust.Practically,Iam,nevertheless,compelledtoactasiffreedomofthewillexisted.IfIwishtoliveinacivilized
community,Imustactasifmanisaresponsiblebeing.Iknowthatphilosophicallyamurdererisnotresponsibleforhiscrimenevertheless,Imustprotectmyselffromunpleasantcontacts.Imayconsiderhim
guiltless,butIprefernottotaketeawithhim.

Myowncareerwasundoubtedlydetermined,notbymyownwillbutbyvariousfactorsoverwhichIhavenocontrolprimarilythosemysteriousglandsinwhichNaturepreparestheveryessenceoflife,our
internalsecretions.

Whereasmaterialistichistoriansandphilosophersneglectpsychicrealities,Freudisinclinedtooverstresstheirimportance.Iamnotapsychologist,butitseemstomefairlyevidentthatphysiologicalfactors,
IamaJew,butIamenthralledbythe
especiallyourendocrines,controlourdestinyIamnotabletoventureajudgmentonsoimportantaphaseofmodernthought.However,itseemstomethatpsychoanalysisisnotalwayssalutary.Itmaynot luminousfigureoftheNazarene.
alwaysbehelpfultodelveintothesubconscious.Themachineryofourlegsiscontrolledbyahundreddifferentmuscles.Doyouthinkitwouldhelpustowalkifweanalyzedourlegsandknewexactlywhichone
ofthelittlemusclesmustbeemployedinlocomotionandtheorderinwhichtheywork?Iamnotpreparedtoacceptallhis[Freud's]conclusions,butIconsiderhisworkanimmenselyvaluablecontributionto
thescienceofhumanbehavior.Ithinkheisevengreaterasawriterthanasapsychologist.Freud'sbrilliantstyleisunsurpassedbyanyonesinceSchopenhauer.

TheonlyprogressIcanseeisprogressinorganization.Theordinaryhumanbeingdoesnotlivelongenoughtodrawanysubstantialbenefitfromhisownexperience.Andnoone,itseems,canbenefitbythe
experiencesofothers.Beingbothafatherandteacher,Iknowwecanteachourchildrennothing.Wecantransmittothemneitherourknowledgeoflifenorofmathematics.Eachmustlearnitslessonanew.

Ibelieveinintuitionsandinspirations.IsometimesfeelthatIamright.IdonotknowthatIam.Whentwoexpeditionsofscientists,financedbytheRoyalAcademy,wentforthtotestmytheoryof
relativity,Iwasconvincedthattheirconclusionswouldtallywithmyhypothesis.IwasnotsurprisedwhentheeclipseofMay29,1919,confirmedmyintuitions.IwouldhavebeensurprisedifIhadbeenwrong.
NoonecanreadtheGospelswithout
Iamenoughofanartisttodrawfreelyuponmyimagination.Imaginationismoreimportantthanknowledge.Knowledgeislimited.Imaginationencirclestheworld. feelingtheactualpresenceofJesus.
Hispersonalitypulsatesinevery
Asachild,IreceivedinstructionbothintheBibleandintheTalmud.IamaJew,butIamenthralledbytheluminousfigureoftheNazarene. word.Nomythisfilledwithsuch
life.
Jesusistoocolossalforthepenofphrasemongers,howeverartful.NomancandisposeofChristianitywithabonmot.

NoonecanreadtheGospelswithoutfeelingtheactualpresenceofJesus.Hispersonalitypulsatesineveryword.Nomythisfilledwithsuchlife.
AsreportedinEinsteinALife(1996)byDenisBrian,whenaskedaboutaclippingfromamagazinearticlereportinghiscommentsonChristianityastakendownbyViereck,Einsteincarefullyreadtheclippingandreplied,"ThatiswhatI
believe.".

Itisquitepossibletobeboth.Ilookuponmyselfasaman.Nationalismisaninfantiledisease.Itisthemeaslesofmankind.
WhenaskedbyViereckifheconsideredhimselftobeaGermanoraJew.AversionwithslightlydifferentwordingisquotedinEinstein:HisLifeandUniverse(http://books.google.com/books?
id=dJMpQagbz_gC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA386#v=onepage&q&f=false)byWalterIsaacson(2007),p.386

WeJewshavebeentooadaptable.Wehavebeentooeagertosacrificeouridiosyncrasiesforthesakeofsocialconformity.Eveninmoderncivilization,theJewismosthappyifheremainsaJew.

Idonotbelieveinraceassuch.Raceisafraud.Allmodernpeoplearetheconglomerationofsomanyethnicmixturesthatnopureraceremains.

Idonotthinkthatreligionisthemostimportantelement.Weareheldtogetherratherbyabodyoftradition,handeddownfromfathertoson,whichthechildimbibeswithhismother'smilk.Theatmosphereofour
infancypredeterminesouridiosyncrasiesandpredilections.
InresponsetoaquestionaboutwhetherreligionisthetieholdingtheJewstogether.

ButtoreturntotheJewishquestion.Othergroupsandnationscultivatetheirindividualtraditions.Thereisnoreasonwhyweshouldsacrificeours.Standardizationrobslifeofitsspice.Todepriveeveryethnic
groupofitsspecialtraditionsistoconverttheworldintoahugeFordplant.Ibelieveinstandardizingautomobiles.Idonotbelieveinstandardizinghumanbeings.Standardizationisagreatperilwhich
threatensAmericanculture.

IamhappybecauseIwantnothingfromanyone.Idonotcareformoney.Decorations,titlesordistinctionsmeannothingtome.Idonotcravepraise.Theonlythingthatgivesmepleasure,apartfrommywork,
myviolinandmysailboat,istheappreciationofmyfellowworkers.

Iclaimcreditfornothing.Everythingisdetermined,thebeginningaswellastheend,byforcesoverwhichwehavenocontrol.Itisdeterminedfortheinsectaswellasforthestar.Humanbeings,vegetablesor
cosmicdust,wealldancetoamysterioustune,intonedinthedistancebyaninvisibleplayer.

IamnotanAtheist.IdonotknowifIcandefinemyselfasaPantheist.Theprobleminvolvedistoovastforourlimitedminds.MayInotreplywithaparable?Thehumanmind,nomatterhow Ilookuponmyselfasaman.
highlytrained,cannotgrasptheuniverse.Weareinthepositionofalittlechild,enteringahugelibrarywhosewallsarecoveredtotheceilingwithbooksinmanydifferenttongues.Thechild Nationalismisaninfantiledisease.It
knowsthatsomeonemusthavewrittenthosebooks.Itdoesnotknowwhoorhow.Itdoesnotunderstandthelanguagesinwhichtheyarewritten.Thechildnotesadefiniteplaninthe isthemeaslesofmankind.
arrangementofthebooks,amysteriousorder,whichitdoesnotcomprehend,butonlydimlysuspects.That,itseemstome,istheattitudeofthehumanmind,eventhegreatestandmost
cultured,towardGod.Weseeauniversemarvelouslyarranged,obeyingcertainlaws,butweunderstandthelawsonlydimly.Ourlimitedmindscannotgraspthemysteriousforcethatswaystheconstellations.I
amfascinatedbySpinoza'sPantheism.Iadmireevenmorehiscontributionstomodernthought.Spinozaisthegreatestofmodernphilosophers,becauseheisthefirstphilosopherwhodealswiththesoulandthebodyasone,notastwoseparatethings.
DidnotappearinSaturdayEveningPoststory,butinGlimpsesoftheGreat(1930)byG.S.Viereck.Therehavebeendisputesontheaccuracy(http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/spinoza.html)ofthisquotation.
Sometimesmisquotedas,"Idon'tthinkIcancallmyselfapantheist".
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 14/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Sometimesmisquotedas,"Idon'tthinkIcancallmyselfapantheist".
Variant,fromEinstein:HisLifeandUniverse(http://books.google.com/books?id=dJMpQagbz_gC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA386#v=onepage&q&f=false)byWalterIsaacson,p.386:I'mnotanatheist.Theprobleminvolvedistoovastforourlimited
minds.Weareinthepositionofalittlechildenteringahugelibraryfilledwithbooksinmanylanguages.Thechildknowssomeonemusthavewrittenthesebooks.Itdoesnotknowhow.Itdoesnotunderstandthelanguagesinwhichtheyarewritten.
Thechilddimlysuspectsamysteriousorderinthearrangementofthebooksbutdoesn'tknowwhatitis.That,itseemstome,istheattitudeofeventhemostintelligenthumanbeingtowardGod.Weseetheuniversemarvelouslyarrangedand
obeyingcertainlawsbutonlydimlyunderstandtheselaws.

IamfascinatedbySpinoza'spantheism,butIadmireevenmorehiscontributiontomodernthoughtbecauseheisthefirstphilosophertodealwiththesoulandbodyasone,andnottwoseparatethings.
DidnotappearinSaturdayEveningPoststory,butquotedinEinstein:HisLifeandUniverse(http://books.google.com/books?id=dJMpQagbz_gC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA387#v=onepage&q&f=false)byWalterIsaacson,p.387,inthesection
discussingViereck'sinterview.

Wisehartinterview(1930?)

Everymanknowsthatinhisworkhedoesbestandaccomplishesmostwhenhehasattainedaproficiencythatenableshimtoworkintuitively.Thatis,therearethingswhichwecometoknowsowellthatwedonotknowhowweknowthem.Soitseems
tomeinmattersofprinciple.Perhapswelivebestanddothingsbestwhenwearenottooconsciousofhowandwhywedothem.

IdonotbelieveinaGodwhomaliciouslyorarbitrarilyinterferesinthepersonalaffairsofmankind.Myreligionconsistsofanhumbleadmirationforthevastpowerwhichmanifestsitselfinthatsmallpartoftheuniversewhichourpoor,weak
mindscangrasp!

Muchreadingafteracertainagedivertsthemindfromitscreativepursuits.Anymanwhoreadstoomuchanduseshisownbraintoolittlefallsintolazyhabitsofthinking,justasthemanwhospendstoomuchtimeinthetheatersisaptto
becontentwithlivingvicariouslyinsteadoflivinghisownlife.

IhaveonlytworuleswhichIregardasprinciplesofconduct.Thefirstis:Havenorules.Thesecondis:Beindependentoftheopinionofothers.

M.K.Wisehart,ACloseLookattheWorld'sGreatestThinker,AmericanMagazine,June1930.Quotesfromtheinterviewappearonpp.5253ofTheTwelvePowersofMan(http://books.google.com/books?id=l_Gktz_D7FIC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA52#v=onepage&q&f=false)byCharles
Fillmore

ReligionandScience(1930)
OriginallywrittenfortheNewYorkTimesMagazine(9November1930)aversionwithalteredwordingappearedinIdeasandOpinions(1954)

Everythingthatmendoorthinkconcernsthesatisfactionoftheneedstheyfeelortheescapefrompain.Thismustbekeptinmindwhenweseektounderstandspiritualorintellectualmovementsand
thewayinwhichtheydevelop.Forfeelingsandlongingsarethemotiveforcesofallhumanstrivingandproductivityhowevernoblytheselattermaydisplaythemselvestous.
WordinginIdeasandOpinions:Everythingthatthehumanracehasdoneandthoughtisconcernedwiththesatisfactionofdeeplyfeltneedsandtheassuagementofpain.Onehastokeep
thisconstantlyinmindifonewishestounderstandspiritualmovementsandtheirdevelopment.Feelingandlongingarethemotiveforcebehindallhumanendeavorandhumancreation,inhoweverexalteda
guisethelattermaypresentthemselvestous.

Thelongingforguidance,forloveandsuccor,providesthestimulusforthegrowthofasocialormoralconceptionofGod.ThisistheGodofProvidence,whoprotects,decides,rewardsandpunishes.Thisisthe
Godwho,accordingtoman'swideninghorizon,lovesandprovidesforthelifeoftherace,orofmankind,orwhoevenloveslifeitself.Heisthecomforterinunhappinessandinunsatisfiedlonging,theprotectorof
thesoulsofthedead.ThisisthesocialormoralideaofGod.
WordinginIdeasandOpinions:Thedesireforguidance,love,andsupportpromptsmentoformthesocialormoralconceptionofGod.ThisistheGodofProvidence,whoprotects,disposes,rewards,
andpunishestheGodwho,accordingtothelimitsofthebeliever'soutlook,lovesandcherishesthelifeofthetribeorofthehumanrace,orevenoflifeitselfthecomforterinsorrowandunsatisfiedlonging
hewhopreservesthesoulsofthedead.ThisisthesocialormoralconceptionofGod. Everythingthatthehumanracehas
doneandthoughtisconcernedwith
ItiseasytofollowinthesacredwritingsoftheJewishpeoplethedevelopmentofthereligionoffearintothemoralreligion,whichiscarriedfurtherintheNewTestament.Thereligionsofallcivilizedpeoples, thesatisfactionofdeeplyfeltneeds
especiallythoseoftheOrient,areprincipallymoralreligions.Animportantadvanceinthelifeofapeopleisthetransformationofthereligionoffearintothemoralreligion.Butonemustavoidthe andtheassuagementofpain.
prejudicethatregardsthereligionsofprimitivepeoplesaspurefearreligionsandthoseofthecivilizedracesaspuremoralreligions.Allaremixedforms,thoughthemoralelement
predominatesinthehigherlevelsofsociallife.
WordinginIdeasandOpinions:TheJewishscripturesadmirablyillustratethedevelopmentfromthereligionoffeartomoralreligion,adevelopmentcontinuedintheNewTestament.Thereligionsofall
civilizedpeoples,especiallythepeoplesoftheOrient,areprimarilymoralreligions.Thedevelopmentfromareligionoffeartomoralreligionisagreatstepinpeoples'lives.Andyet,that
primitivereligionsarebasedentirelyonfearandthereligionsofcivilizedpeoplespurelyonmoralityisaprejudiceagainstwhichwemustbeonourguard.Thetruthisthatallreligionsare
avaryingblendofbothtypes,withthisdifferentiation:thatonthehigherlevelsofsociallifethereligionofmoralitypredominates.

CommontoallthesetypesistheanthropomorphiccharacteroftheideaofGod.Onlyexceptionallygiftedindividualsorespeciallynoblecommunitiesriseessentiallyabovethislevelinthesethereisfoundathird
levelofreligiousexperience,evenifitisseldomfoundinapureform.Iwillcallitthecosmicreligioussense.Thisishardtomakecleartothosewhodonotexperienceit,sinceitdoesnotinvolvean
anthropomorphicideaofGodtheindividualfeelsthevanityofhumandesiresandaims,andthenobilityandmarvelousorderwhicharerevealedinnatureandintheworldofthought.Hefeels
theindividualdestinyasanimprisonmentandseekstoexperiencethetotalityofexistenceasaunityfullofsignificance.Indicationsofthiscosmicreligioussensecanbefoundevenonearlierlevelsofdevelopment
forexample,inthePsalmsofDavidandintheProphets.ThecosmicelementismuchstrongerinBuddhism,as,inparticular,Schopenhauer'smagnificentessayshaveshownus.Thereligiousgeniusesofall
timeshavebeendistinguishedbythiscosmicreligioussense,whichrecognizesneitherdogmasnorGodmadeinman'simage.Consequentlytherecannotbeachurchwhosechiefdoctrinesare
basedonthecosmicreligiousexperience.Itcomesabout,therefore,thatwefindpreciselyamongthehereticsofallagesmenwhowereinspiredbythishighestreligiousexperienceoftenthey
appearedtotheircontemporariesasatheists,butsometimesalsoassaints.Viewedfromthisangle,menlikeDemocritus,FrancisofAssisi,andSpinozaareneartooneanother.
WordinginIdeasandOpinions:CommontoallthesetypesistheanthropomorphiccharacteroftheirconceptionofGod.Ingeneral,onlyindividualsofexceptionalendowments,andexceptionallyhigh
mindedcommunities,risetoanyconsiderableextentabovethislevel.Butthereisathirdstageofreligiousexperiencewhichbelongstoallofthem,eventhoughitisrarelyfoundinapureform:Ishallcallit Wefindpreciselyamongtheheretics
cosmicreligiousfeeling.Itisverydifficulttoelucidatethisfeelingtoanyonewhoisentirelywithoutit,especiallyasthereisnoanthropomorphicconceptionofGodcorrespondingtoit.The ofallagesmenwhowereinspiredby
thishighestreligiousexperienceoften
individualfeelsthefutilityofhumandesiresandaimsandthesublimityandmarvelousorderwhichrevealthemselvesbothinnatureandintheworldofthought.Individualexistence
theyappearedtotheircontemporaries
impresseshimasasortofprisonandhewantstoexperiencetheuniverseasasinglesignificantwhole.Thebeginningsofcosmicreligiousfeelingalreadyappearatanearlystageofdevelopment,e.g.,inmany
asatheists,butsometimesalsoas
ofthePsalmsofDavidandinsomeoftheProphets.Buddhism,aswehavelearnedespeciallyfromthewonderfulwritingsofSchopenhauer,containsamuchstrongerelementofthis.Thereligious
saints.Viewedfromthisangle,men
geniusesofallageshavebeendistinguishedbythiskindofreligiousfeeling,whichknowsnodogmaandnoGodconceivedinman'simagesothattherecanbenochurchwhosecentral likeDemocritus,FrancisofAssisi,
teachingsarebasedonit.Henceitispreciselyamongthehereticsofeveryagethatwefindmenwhowerefilledwiththishighestkindofreligiousfeelingandwereinmanycases andSpinozaareneartooneanother.
regardedbytheircontemporariesasatheists,sometimesalsoassaints.Lookedatinthislight,menlikeDemocritus,FrancisofAssisi,andSpinozaarecloselyakintooneanother.

Howcanthiscosmicreligiousexperiencebecommunicatedfrommantoman,ifitcannotleadtoadefiniteconceptionofGodortoatheology?Itseemstomethatthemostimportantfunctionofartandofscienceistoarouseand
keepalivethisfeelinginthosewhoarereceptive.
WordinginIdeasandOpinions:Howcancosmicreligiousfeelingbecommunicatedfromonepersontoanother,ifitcangiverisetonodefinitenotionofaGodandnotheology?Inmyview,itisthemostimportantfunctionofart
andsciencetoawakenthisfeelingandkeepitaliveinthosewhoarereceptivetoit.

Foranyonewhoispervadedwiththesenseofcausallawinallthathappens,whoacceptsinrealearnesttheassumptionofcausality,theideaofBeingwhointerfereswiththesequenceofeventsintheworldisabsolutelyimpossible.Neitherthereligionof
fearnorthesocialmoralreligioncanhaveanyholdonhim.AGodwhorewardsandpunishesisforhimunthinkable,becausemanactsinaccordancewithaninnerandouternecessity,andwould,intheeyesofGod,beaslittleresponsibleasaninanimate
objectisforthemovementswhichitmakes.Science,inconsequence,hasbeenaccusedofunderminingmoralsbutwrongly.Theethicalbehaviorofmanisbetterbasedonsympathy,educationandsocialrelationships,andrequiresno
supportfromreligion.Man'splightwould,indeed,besadifhehadtobekeptinorderthroughfearofpunishmentandhopeofrewardsafterdeath.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 15/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
supportfromreligion.Man'splightwould,indeed,besadifhehadtobekeptinorderthroughfearofpunishmentandhopeofrewardsafterdeath.
WordinginIdeasandOpinions:Themanwhoisthoroughlyconvincedoftheuniversaloperationofthelawofcausationcannotforamomententertaintheideaofabeingwhointerferesinthecourseofeventsprovided,ofcourse,thathetakes
thehypothesisofcausalityreallyseriously.Hehasnouseforthereligionoffearandequallylittleforsocialormoralreligion.AGodwhorewardsandpunishesisinconceivabletohimforthesimplereasonthataman'sactionsaredeterminedby
necessity,externalandinternal,sothatinGod'seyeshecannotberesponsible,anymorethananinanimateobjectisresponsibleforthemotionsitundergoes.Sciencehasthereforebeenchargedwithunderminingmorality,butthechargeis
unjust.Aman'sethicalbehaviorshouldbebasedeffectuallyonsympathy,education,andsocialtiesandneedsnoreligiousbasisisnecessary.Manwouldindeedbeinapoorwayifhehadtoberestrainedbyfearof
punishmentandhopesofrewardafterdeath.
Variant:"ItseemstomethattheideaofapersonalGodisananthropologicalconceptwhichIcannottakeseriously.Ialsocannotimaginesomewillorgoaloutsidethehumansphere"hasbeencited
(http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/einstein.htm)asastatementthatprecedesthelastthreesentenceshere,butinfactthisisaseparatequotefroma1947letterEinsteinwrotetoMurrayW.Gross,
includedintheEinsteinandReligion(1999)sectionbelow(andintheletterthewordusedis"anthropomorphic,"not"anthropological").

Itis,therefore,quitenaturalthatthechurcheshavealwaysfoughtagainstscienceandhavepersecuteditssupporters.But,ontheotherhand,Iassertthatthecosmicreligiousexperienceisthestrongestand
noblestdrivingforcebehindscientificresearch.Noonewhodoesnotappreciatetheterrificexertions,and,aboveall,thedevotionwithoutwhichpioneercreationsinscientificthoughtcannotcomeintobeing,
canjudgethestrengthofthefeelingoutofwhichalonesuchwork,turnedawayasitisfromimmediatepracticallife,cangrow.Whatadeepfaithintherationalityofthestructureoftheworldandwhata
longingtounderstandevenasmallglimpseofthereasonrevealedintheworldtheremusthavebeeninKeplerandNewtontoenablethemtounravelthemechanismoftheheavensinlongyearsoflonelywork!
Anyonewhoonlyknowsscientificresearchinitspracticalapplicationsmayeasilycometoawronginterpretationofthestateofmindofthemenwho,surroundedbyskepticalcontemporaries, Itisthemostimportantfunctionof
haveshownthewaytokindredspiritsscatteredoverallcountriesinallcenturies.Onlythosewhohavededicatedtheirlivestosimilarendscanhavealivingconceptionoftheinspirationwhichgavethese artandsciencetoawakenthisfeeling
menthepowertoremainloyaltotheirpurposeinspiteofcountlessfailures.Itisthecosmicreligioussensewhichgrantsthispower.Acontemporaryhasrightlysaidthattheonlydeeplyreligiouspeopleofour andkeepitaliveinthosewhoare
largelymaterialisticagearetheearnestmenofresearch. receptivetoit.
WordinginIdeasandOpinions:Itisthereforeeasytoseewhythechurcheshavealwaysfoughtscienceandpersecuteditsdevotees.Ontheotherhand,Imaintainthatthecosmicreligiousfeelingis
thestrongestandnoblestmotiveforscientificresearch.Onlythosewhorealizetheimmenseeffortsand,aboveall,thedevotionwithoutwhichpioneerworkintheoreticalsciencecannotbeachieved
areabletograspthestrengthoftheemotionoutofwhichalonesuchwork,remoteasitisfromtheimmediaterealitiesoflife,canissue.Whatadeepconvictionoftherationalityoftheuniverseand
whatayearningtounderstand,wereitbutafeeblereflectionofthemindrevealedinthisworld,KeplerandNewtonmusthavehadtoenablethemtospendyearsofsolitarylaborindisentanglingthe
principlesofcelestialmechanics!Thosewhoseacquaintancewithscientificresearchisderivedchieflyfromitspracticalresultseasilydevelopacompletelyfalsenotionofthementalityofthe
menwho,surroundedbyaskepticalworld,haveshownthewaytokindredspiritsscatteredwidethroughtheworldandthroughthecenturies.Onlyonewhohasdevotedhislifetosimilarends
canhaveavividrealizationofwhathasinspiredthesemenandgiventhemthestrengthtoremaintruetotheirpurposeinspiteofcountlessfailures.Itiscosmicreligiousfeelingthatgivesamansuchstrength.
Acontemporaryhassaid,notunjustly,thatinthismaterialisticageofourstheseriousscientificworkersaretheonlyprofoundlyreligiouspeople.

MeinWeltbild(MyWorldview)(1931)

"MeinWeltbild"(1931)["MyWorldview",or"MyViewoftheWorld"or"TheWorldAsISeeIt"],translatedasthetitleessayofthebookTheWorldAsISeeIt(1949)(http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/worldsee.html).Varioustranslated
editionshavebeenpublishedofthisessayorportionsofit,includingonetitled"WhatIBelieve"anothercompilationwhichincludesitisIdeasandOpinions(1954)
theindividualfeelsthevanityof
Howstrangeisthelotofusmortals!Eachofusishereforabriefsojournforwhatpurposeheknowsnot,thoughhesometimesthinkshesensesit.Butwithoutdeeperreflectiononeknowsfrom humandesiresandaims,andthe
dailylifethatoneexistsforotherpeoplefirstofallforthoseuponwhosesmilesandwellbeingourownhappinessiswhollydependent,andthenforthemany,unknowntous,towhosedestinieswearebound nobilityandmarvelousorderwhich
bythetiesofsympathy.AhundredtimeseverydayIremindmyselfthatmyinnerandouterlifearebasedonthelaborsofothermen,livinganddead,andthatImustexertmyselfinordertogive arerevealedinnatureandintheworld
inthesamemeasureasIhavereceivedandamstillreceiving.... ofthought.

IamstronglydrawntothesimplelifeandamoftenoppressedbythefeelingthatIamengrossinganunnecessaryamountofthelabourofmyfellowmen.Iregardclassdifferencesascontrarytojusticeand,
inthelastresort,basedonforce.Ialsoconsiderthatplainlivingisgoodforeverybody,physicallyandmentally.

InhumanfreedominthephilosophicalsenseIamdefinitelyadisbeliever.Everybodyactsnotonlyunderexternalcompulsionbutalsoinaccordancewithinnernecessity.Schopenhauer'ssaying,
that"amancandoashewill,butnotwillashewill,"hasbeenaninspirationtomesincemyyouthup,andacontinualconsolationandunfailingwellspringofpatienceinthefaceofthehardshipsoflife,myown
andothers'.Thisfeelingmercifullymitigatesthesenseofresponsibilitywhichsoeasilybecomesparalyzing,anditpreventsusfromtakingourselvesandotherpeopletooseriouslyitconduces
toaviewoflifeinwhichhumor,aboveall,hasitsdueplace.

IhaveneverlookeduponeaseandhappinessasendsinthemselvesthiscriticalbasisIcalltheidealofapigsty.Theidealsthathavelightedmyway,andtimeaftertimehavegivenmenew
couragetofacelifecheerfully,havebeenKindness,Beauty,andTruth.Withoutthesenseofkinshipwithmenoflikemind,withouttheoccupationwiththeobjectiveworld,theeternallyunattainableinthe
fieldofartandscientificendeavors,lifewouldhaveseemedemptytome.Thetriteobjectsofhumaneffortspossessions,outwardsuccess,luxuryhavealwaysseemedtomecontemptible.
Varianttranslation:IhaveneverlookeduponeaseandhappinessasendsinthemselvessuchanethicalbasisIcallmoreproperforaherdofswine.Theidealswhichhavelightedmeonmywayandtime
aftertimegivenmenewcouragetofacelifecheerfully,havebeenTruth,Goodness,andBeauty.Withoutthesenseoffellowshipwithmenoflikemind,ofpreoccupationwiththeobjective,theeternally
unattainableinthefieldofartandscientificresearch,lifewouldhaveseemedtomeempty.Theordinaryobjectsofhumanendeavorproperty,outwardsuccess,luxuryhavealwaysseemedtome
contemptible. Acontemporaryhasrightlysaidthat
theonlydeeplyreligiouspeopleofour
Mypassionatesenseofsocialjusticeandsocialresponsibilityhasalwayscontrastedoddlywithmypronouncedlackofneedfordirectcontactwithotherhumanbeingsandhumancommunities. largelymaterialisticagearethe
earnestmenofresearch.
Igangmyowngaitandhaveneverbelongedtomycountry,myhome,myfriends,orevenmyimmediatefamily,withmywholeheartinthefaceofallthesetiesIhaveneverlostanobstinatesenseofdetachment,
oftheneedforsolitudeafeelingwhichincreaseswiththeyears.
Varianttranslation:Iamtrulya'lonetraveler'andhaveneverbelongedtomycountry,myhome,myfriends,orevenmyimmediatefamily,withmywholeheartinthefaceofalltheseties,Ihaveneverlostasenseofdistance
andaneedforsolitude...

Mypoliticalidealisdemocracy.Leteverymanberespectedasanindividualandnomanidolized.ItisanironyoffatethatImyselfhavebeentherecipientofexcessiveadmirationandreverencefrommyfellowbeings,throughnofault,andno
merit,ofmyown.Thecauseofthismaywellbethedesire,unattainableformany,tounderstandthefewideastowhichIhavewithmyfeeblepowersattainedthroughceaselessstruggle.Iamquiteawarethatforanyorganizationtoreachitsgoals,oneman
mustdothethinkinganddirectingandgenerallybeartheresponsibility.Buttheledmustnotbecoerced,theymustbeabletochoosetheirleader.

Anautocraticsystemofcoercion,inmyopinion,soondegenerates.Forforcealwaysattractsmenoflowmorality,andIbelieveittobeaninvariablerulethattyrantsofgeniusaresucceededby
scoundrels.ForthisreasonIhavealwaysbeenpassionatelyopposedtosystemssuchasweseeinItalyandRussiatoday.
Varianttranslation:Inmyopinion,anautocraticsystemofcoercionsoondegeneratesforceattractsmenoflowmorality...

ThereallyvaluablethinginthepageantofhumanlifeseemstomenottheStatebutthecreative,sentientindividual,thepersonalityitalonecreatesthenobleandthesublime,whiletheherd
assuchremainsdullinthoughtanddullinfeeling.

Thistopicbringsmetothatworstoutcropoftheherdnature,themilitarysystem,whichIabhor.Thatamancantakepleasureinmarchinginformationtothestrainsofabandisenoughto
makemedespisehim.Hehasonlybeengivenhisbigbrainbymistakeabackbonewasallheneeded.Thisplaguespotofcivilizationoughttobeabolishedwithallpossiblespeed.Heroismbyorder,
senselessviolence,andallthepestilentnonsensethatgoesbythenameofpatriotismhowIhatethem!Warseemstomeamean,contemptiblething:Iwouldratherbehackedinpiecesthan
takepartinsuchanabominablebusiness.
Varianttranslation:Hewhojoyfullymarchestomusicinrankandfilehasalreadyearnedmycontempt.Hehasbeengivenalargebrainbymistake,sinceforhimthespinalcordwouldfullysuffice.This
disgracetocivilisationshouldbedoneawaywithatonce.Heroismatcommand,senselessbrutality,deplorableloveofcountrystance,howviolentlyIhateallthis,howdespicableandignoble
warisIwouldratherbetorntoshredsthanbepartofsobaseanaction!Itismyconvictionthatkillingunderthecloakofwarisnothingbutanactofmurder.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 16/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
warisIwouldratherbetorntoshredsthanbepartofsobaseanaction!Itismyconvictionthatkillingunderthecloakofwarisnothingbutanactofmurder.

Themostbeautifulexperiencewecanhaveisthemysterious.Itisthefundamentalemotionthatstandsatthecradleoftrueartandtruescience.Whoeverdoesnotknowitandcannolonger Schopenhauer'ssaying,that"aman
wonder,nolongermarvel,isasgoodasdead,andhiseyesaredimmed.Itwastheexperienceofmysteryevenifmixedwithfearthatengenderedreligion.Aknowledgeoftheexistenceof candoashewill,butnotwillashe
will,"hasbeenaninspirationtome
somethingwecannotpenetrate,ourperceptionsoftheprofoundestreasonandthemostradiantbeauty,whichonlyintheirmostprimitiveformsareaccessibletoourminds:itisthisknowledge
sincemyyouthup,andacontinual
andthisemotionthatconstitutetruereligiosity.Inthissense,andonlythissense,Iamadeeplyreligiousman.
consolationandunfailingwellspring
Varianttranslations:Thefairestthingwecanexperienceisthemysterious.Itisthefundamentalemotionwhichstandsatthecradleoftrueartandtruescience.Hewhoknowsitnotandcannolonger
ofpatienceinthefaceofthe
wonder,nolongerfeelamazement,isasgoodasdead,asnuffedoutcandle.Itwastheexperienceofmysteryevenifmixedwithfearthatengenderedreligion.Aknowledgeoftheexistenceof hardshipsoflife...
somethingwecannotpenetrate,ofthemanifestationsoftheprofoundestreasonandthemostradiantbeauty,whichareonlyaccessibletoourreasonintheirmostelementaryformsitisthisknowledgeand
thisemotionthatconstitutethetrulyreligiousattitudeinthissense,andinthisalone,Iamadeeplyreligiousman.
Thefinestemotionofwhichwearecapableisthemysticemotion.Hereinliesthegermofallartandalltruescience.Anyonetowhomthisfeelingisalien,whoisnolongercapableofwondermentandlivesin
astateoffearisadeadman.Toknowthatwhatisimpenetrableforusreallyexistsandmanifestsitselfasthehighestwisdomandthemostradiantbeauty,whosegrossformsaloneareintelligibletoourpoor
facultiesthisknowledge,thisfeelingthatisthecoreofthetruereligioussentiment.Inthissense,andinthissensealone,Irankmyselfamongprofoundlyreligiousmen.
AsquotedinAfterEinstein:ProceedingsoftheEinsteinCentennialCelebration(1981)byPeterBarkerandCecilG.Shugart,p.179
Themostbeautifulthingwecanexperienceisthemysterious.Itisthesourceofalltrueartandscience.Hetowhomthisemotionisastranger,whocannolongerpausetowonderandstandraptinawe,is
asgoodasdead:hiseyesareclosed.
AsquotedinIntroductiontoPhilosophy(1935)byGeorgeThomasWhitePatrickandFrankMillerChapman,p.44
Themostbeautifulemotionwecanexperienceisthemysterious.Itisthefundamentalemotionthatstandsatthecradleofalltrueartandscience.Hetowhomthisemotionisastranger,whocanno
longerwonderandstandraptinawe,isasgoodasdead,asnuffedoutcandle.Tosensethatbehindanythingthatcanbeexperiencedthereissomethingthatourmindscannotgrasp,whosebeauty Mypassionatesenseofsocialjustice
andsublimityreachesusonlyindirectly:thisisreligiousness.Inthissense,andinthissenseonly,Iamadevoutlyreligiousman." andsocialresponsibilityhasalways
Hewhocannolongerpausetowonderandstandraptinawe,isasgoodasdeadhiseyesareclosed. contrastedoddlywithmypronounced
lackofneedfordirectcontactwith
IcannotimagineaGodwhorewardsandpunishestheobjectsofhiscreation,whosepurposesaremodeledafterourownaGod,inshort,whoisbutareflectionofhumanfrailty.NeithercanI otherhumanbeingsandhuman
believethattheindividualsurvivesthedeathofhisbody,althoughfeeblesoulsharborsuchthoughtsthroughfearorridiculousegotisms. communities.
AsquotedinEuropeanCivilizationandPoliticsSince1815(1938)byErikAchorn,p.723.amdinhisobituaryinTheNewYorkTimes(19April1955)
Varianttranslation:IcannotconceiveofaGodwhorewardsandpunisheshiscreatures,orhasawillofthetypeofwhichweareconsciousinourselves.Anindividualwhoshouldsurvivehis
physicaldeathisalsobeyondmycomprehension,nordoIwishitotherwisesuchnotionsareforthefearsorabsurdegoismoffeeblesouls.
AsquotedinTheHeretic'sHandbookofQuotations:CuttingCommentsonBurningIssues(1992)byCharlesBufe,p.186

Itisenoughformetocontemplatethemysteryofconsciouslifeperpetuatingitselfthroughalleternity,toreflectuponthemarvelousstructureoftheuniversewhichwedimlyperceive,andtotryhumblytocomprehendan
infinitesimalpartoftheintelligencemanifestedinnature.
AsquotedinIntroductiontoPhilosophy(1935)byGeorgeThomasWhitePatrickandFrankMillerChapman,p.44
Varianttranslations:
Iamsatisfiedwiththemysteryoflife'seternityandwithaknowledge,asense,ofthemarvelousstructureofexistenceaswellasthehumbleattempttounderstandevenatinyportionoftheReasonthatmanifestsitselfin
nature.
Enoughformethemysteryoftheeternityoflife,andtheinklingofthemarvellousstructureofreality,togetherwiththesingleheartedendeavortocomprehendaportion,beitneversotiny,ofthereasonthatmanifestsitselfinnature.

MyCredo(1932)

SpeechtotheGermanLeagueofHumanRights,Berlin(Autumn1932)aspublishedinEinstein:ALifeinScience(1994)byMichaelWhiteandJohnGribbinThisrepeatsorrevisessomestatementsandideasofMeinWeltbild(1931).(Fulltextonline
(http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/credo.html))

Oursituationonthisearthseemsstrange.Everyoneofusappearshereinvoluntarilyanduninvitedforashortstay,withoutknowingthewhysandthewherefore.Inourdailylivesweonlyfeelthatmanishereforthesakeofothers,forthosewhomwe
loveandformanyotherbeingswhosefateisconnectedwithourown.IamoftenworriedatthethoughtthatmylifeisbasedtosuchalargeextentontheworkofmyfellowhumanbeingsandIamawareofmygreatindebtednesstothem.

Idonotbelieveinfreedomofthewill.Schopenhauer'swords:Mancandowhathewants,buthecannotwillwhathewillsaccompanymeinallsituationsthroughoutmylifeandreconcilemewiththeactionsofothersevenifthey
areratherpainfultome.Thisawarenessofthelackoffreedomofwillpreservesmefromtakingtooseriouslymyselfandmyfellowmenasactinganddecidingindividualsandfromlosingmytemper.

Mypassionforsocialjusticehasoftenbroughtmeintoconflictwithpeople,asdidmyaversiontoanyobligationanddependenceIdonotregardasabsolutelynecessary.Ialwayshaveahighregardfortheindividualandhavean
insuperabledistasteforviolenceandclubmanship.
Allthesemotivesmademeintoapassionatepacifistandantimilitarist.Iamagainstanynationalism,evenintheguiseofmerepatriotism.Privilegesbasedonpositionandpropertyhavealwaysseemedtomeunjust
andpernicious,asdidanyexaggeratedpersonalitycult.

Iamanadherentoftheidealofdemocracy,althoughIwellknowtheweaknessesofthedemocraticformofgovernment.Socialequalityandeconomicprotectionoftheindividualappearedtome
alwaysastheimportantcommunalaimsofthestate.
AlthoughIamatypicallonerindailylife,myconsciousnessofbelongingtotheinvisiblecommunityofthosewhostrivefortruth,beauty,andjusticehaspreservedmefromfeelingisolated.

Themostbeautifulanddeepestexperienceamancanhaveisthesenseofthemysterious.Itistheunderlyingprincipleofreligionaswellasallseriousendeavorinartandscience.Hewho
neverhadthisexperienceseemstome,ifnotdead,thenatleastblind.Tosensethatbehindanythingthatcanbeexperiencedthereisasomethingthatourmindcannotgraspandwhosebeautyandsublimity
reachesusonlyindirectlyandasafeeblereflection,thisisreligiousness.
InthissenseIamreligious.Tomeitsufficestowonderatthesesecretsandtoattempthumblytograspwithmymindamereimageoftheloftystructureofallthatthereis.

ObituaryforEmmyNoether(1935)

EmmyNoether,lettertotheEditorofTheNewYorkTimes,publishedMay5,1935Fulltextonline(http://wwwhistory.mcs.standrews.ac.uk/Obits2/Noether_Emmy_Einstein.html)

Theeffortsofmosthumanbeingsareconsumedinthestrugglefortheirdailybread,butmostofthosewhoare,eitherthroughfortuneorsomespecialgift,relievedofthisstrugglearelargelyabsorbedinfurther Thereallyvaluablethinginthe
improvingtheirworldlylot.Beneaththeeffortdirectedtowardtheaccumulationofworldlygoodsliesalltoofrequentlytheillusionthatthisisthemostsubstantialanddesirableendtobe pageantofhumanlifeseemstome
achievedbutthereis,fortunately,aminoritycomposedofthosewhorecognizeearlyintheirlivesthatthemostbeautifulandsatisfyingexperiencesopentohumankindarenotderivedfromthe nottheStatebutthecreative,sentient
outside,butareboundupwiththedevelopmentoftheindividual'sownfeeling,thinkingandacting.Thegenuineartists,investigatorsandthinkershavealwaysbeenpersonsofthiskind.However individual,thepersonality...
inconspicuouslythelifeoftheseindividualsrunsitscourse,nonethelessthefruitsoftheirendeavorsarethemostvaluablecontributionswhichonegenerationcanmaketoitssuccessors.

Inthejudgmentofthemostcompetentlivingmathematicians,FruleinNoetherwasthemostsignificantcreativemathematicalgeniusthusfarproducedsincethehighereducationofwomen
began.

Puremathematicsis,initsway,thepoetryoflogicalideas.Oneseeksthemostgeneralideasofoperationwhichwillbringtogetherinsimple,logicalandunifiedformthelargestpossiblecircle
offormalrelationships.Inthisefforttowardlogicalbeautyspiritualformulasarediscoverednecessaryforthedeeperpenetrationintothelawsofnature.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 17/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
offormalrelationships.Inthisefforttowardlogicalbeautyspiritualformulasarediscoverednecessaryforthedeeperpenetrationintothelawsofnature.

ScienceandReligion(1941)
Themostbeautifulexperiencewecan
Science,PhilosophyandReligion,ASymposium,publishedbytheConferenceonScience,PhilosophyandReligioninTheirRelationtotheDemocraticWayofLife,Inc.,NewYork(1941)laterpublishedinOutofMyLaterYears(1950) haveisthemysterious.Itisthe
Fulltextonline(http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/scienceandreligion.html) fundamentalemotionthatstandsat
thecradleoftrueartandtrue
Itwouldnotbedifficulttocometoanagreementastowhatweunderstandbyscience.Scienceisthecenturyoldendeavortobringtogetherbymeansofsystematicthoughttheperceptible science...
phenomenaofthisworldintoasthoroughgoinganassociationaspossible.Toputitboldly,itistheattemptattheposteriorreconstructionofexistencebytheprocessofconceptualization.Butwhenasking
myselfwhatreligionisIcannotthinkoftheanswersoeasily.Andevenafterfindingananswerwhichmaysatisfymeatthisparticularmoment,IstillremainconvincedthatIcanneverunder
anycircumstancesbringtogether,eventoaslightextent,thethoughtsofallthosewhohavegiventhisquestionseriousconsideration.

Apersonwhoisreligiouslyenlightenedappearstometobeonewhohas,tothebestofhisability,liberatedhimselffromthefettersofhisselfishdesiresandispreoccupiedwiththoughts,feelings,andaspirationstowhichheclings
becauseoftheirsuperpersonalvalue.Itseemstomethatwhatisimportantistheforceofthissuperpersonalcontentandthedepthoftheconvictionconcerningitsoverpoweringmeaningfulness,regardlessofwhetheranyattemptismadetounitethis
contentwithadivineBeing,forotherwiseitwouldnotbepossibletocountBuddhaandSpinozaasreligiouspersonalities.Accordingly,areligiouspersonisdevoutinthesensethathehasnodoubtofthesignificanceandloftinessofthose
superpersonalobjectsandgoalswhichneitherrequirenorarecapableofrationalfoundation.Theyexistwiththesamenecessityandmatteroffactnessashehimself.Inthissensereligionistheageoldendeavorofmankindtobecome
clearlyandcompletelyconsciousofthesevaluesandgoalsandconstantlytostrengthenandextendtheireffect.Ifoneconceivesofreligionandscienceaccordingtothesedefinitionsthenaconflictbetweenthemappearsimpossible.Forsciencecanonly
ascertainwhatis,butnotwhatshouldbe,andoutsideofitsdomainvaluejudgmentsofallkindsremainnecessary.

AconflictariseswhenareligiouscommunityinsistsontheabsolutetruthfulnessofallstatementsrecordedintheBible.ThismeansaninterventiononthepartofreligionintothesphereofsciencethisiswherethestruggleoftheChurchagainstthedoctrines
ofGalileoandDarwinbelongs.Ontheotherhand,representativesofsciencehaveoftenmadeanattempttoarriveatfundamentaljudgmentswithrespecttovaluesandendsonthebasisofscientificmethod,andinthiswayhavesetthemselvesinopposition
toreligion.Theseconflictshaveallsprungfromfatalerrors.

Eventhoughtherealmsofreligionandscienceinthemselvesareclearlymarkedofffromeachother,neverthelessthereexistbetweenthetwostrongreciprocalrelationshipsanddependencies.
Thoughreligionmaybethatwhichdeterminesthegoal,ithas,nevertheless,learnedfromscience,inthebroadestsense,whatmeanswillcontributetotheattainmentofthegoalsithassetup.Butsciencecanonly
becreatedbythosewhoarethoroughlyimbuedwiththeaspirationtowardtruthandunderstanding.Thissourceoffeeling,however,springsfromthesphereofreligion.Tothistherealso
belongsthefaithinthepossibilitythattheregulationsvalidfortheworldofexistencearerational,thatis,comprehensibletoreason.Icannotconceiveofagenuinescientistwithoutthat
profoundfaith.Thesituationmaybeexpressedbyanimage:sciencewithoutreligionislame,religionwithoutscienceisblind.
ThoughIhaveassertedabovethatintruthalegitimateconflictbetweenreligionandsciencecannotexist,Imustneverthelessqualifythisassertiononceagainonanessentialpoint,withreferencetotheactual
contentofhistoricalreligions.ThisqualificationhastodowiththeconceptofGod.Duringtheyouthfulperiodofmankind'sspiritualevolutionhumanfantasycreatedgodsinman'sownimage,who,bythe
operationsoftheirwillweresupposedtodetermine,oratanyratetoinfluence,thephenomenalworld.Mansoughttoalterthedispositionofthesegodsinhisownfavorbymeansofmagicandprayer.Theideaof
Godinthereligionstaughtatpresentisasublimationofthatoldconceptofthegods.Itsanthropomorphiccharacterisshown,forinstance,bythefactthatmenappealtotheDivineBeinginprayersandpleadfor
thefulfillmentoftheirwishes.

Nobody,certainly,willdenythattheideaoftheexistenceofanomnipotent,just,andomnibeneficentpersonalGodisabletoaccordmansolace,help,andguidancealso,byvirtueofits
simplicityitisaccessibletothemostundevelopedmind.But,ontheotherhand,therearedecisiveweaknessesattachedtothisideainitself,whichhavebeenpainfullyfeltsincethebeginningof
history.Thatis,ifthisbeingisomnipotent,theneveryoccurrence,includingeveryhumanaction,everyhumanthought,andeveryhumanfeelingandaspirationisalsoHisworkhowisitpossibletothinkofholding
menresponsiblefortheirdeedsandthoughtsbeforesuchanalmightyBeing?IngivingoutpunishmentandrewardsHewouldtoacertainextentbepassingjudgmentonHimself.Howcanthisbecombinedwiththe
goodnessandrighteousnessascribedtoHim?
ThemainsourceofthepresentdayconflictsbetweenthespheresofreligionandofscienceliesinthisconceptofapersonalGod.
AlthoughIamatypicallonerindaily
Whenthenumberoffactorscomingintoplayinaphenomenologicalcomplexistoolarge,scientificmethodinmostcasesfailsus.Oneneedonlythinkoftheweather,inwhichcasepredictionevenforafewdays life,myconsciousnessofbelonging
aheadisimpossible.Neverthelessnoonedoubtsthatweareconfrontedwithacausalconnectionwhosecausalcomponentsareinthemainknowntous. totheinvisiblecommunityofthose
Occurrencesinthisdomainarebeyondthereachofexactpredictionbecauseofthevarietyoffactorsinoperation,notbecauseofanylackoforderinnature. whostrivefortruth,beauty,and
justicehaspreservedmefromfeeling
Themoreamanisimbuedwiththeorderedregularityofalleventsthefirmerbecomeshisconvictionthatthereisnoroomleftbythesideofthisorderedregularityforcausesofadifferentnature.Forhimneither isolated.
theruleofhumannortheruleofdivinewillexistsasanindependentcauseofnaturalevents.Tobesure,thedoctrineofapersonalGodinterferingwithnaturaleventscouldneverberefuted,intherealsense,by
science,forthisdoctrinecanalwaystakerefugeinthosedomainsinwhichscientificknowledgehasnotyetbeenabletosetfoot.
ButIampersuadedthatsuchbehavioronthepartoftherepresentativesofreligionwouldnotonlybeunworthybutalsofatal.Foradoctrinewhichisabletomaintainitselfnotinclearlightbutonlyinthedark,will
ofnecessityloseitseffectonmankind,withincalculableharmtohumanprogress.Intheirstrugglefortheethicalgood,teachersofreligionmusthavethestaturetogiveupthedoctrineofapersonalGod,thatis,
giveupthatsourceoffearandhopewhichinthepastplacedsuchvastpowerinthehandsofpriests.IntheirlaborstheywillhavetoavailthemselvesofthoseforceswhicharecapableofcultivatingtheGood,the
True,andtheBeautifulinhumanityitself.Thisis,tobesure,amoredifficultbutanincomparablymoreworthytask.

Ifitisoneofthegoalsofreligiontoliberatemankindasfaraspossiblefromthebondageofegocentriccravings,desires,andfears,scientificreasoningcanaidreligioninyetanothersense.Althoughitistruethatit
isthegoalofsciencetodiscoverruleswhichpermittheassociationandforetellingoffacts,thisisnotitsonlyaim.Italsoseekstoreducetheconnectionsdiscoveredtothesmallestpossiblenumberofmutually
independentconceptualelements.
Itisinthisstrivingaftertherationalunificationofthemanifoldthatitencountersitsgreatestsuccesses,eventhoughitispreciselythisattemptwhichcausesittorunthegreatestriskoffallingapreytoillusions.But
whoeverhasundergonetheintenseexperienceofsuccessfuladvancesmadeinthisdomainismovedbyprofoundreverencefortherationalitymademanifestinexistence.Bywayofthe
understandingheachievesafarreachingemancipationfromtheshacklesofpersonalhopesanddesires,andtherebyattainsthathumbleattitudeofmindtowardthegrandeurofreasonincarnateinexistence,and
which,initsprofoundestdepths,isinaccessibletoman. Apersonwhoisreligiously
Thisattitude,however,appearstometobereligious,inthehighestsenseoftheword.Andsoitseemstomethatsciencenotonlypurifiesthereligiousimpulseofthedrossofitsanthropomorphismbut enlightenedappearstometobeone
alsocontributestoareligiousspiritualizationofourunderstandingoflife. whohas,tothebestofhisability,
Thefurtherthespiritualevolutionofmankindadvances,themorecertainitseemstomethatthepathtogenuinereligiositydoesnotliethroughthefearoflife,andthefearofdeath,andblindfaith,butthrough liberatedhimselffromthefettersof
strivingafterrationalknowledge. hisselfishdesiresandispreoccupied
withthoughts,feelings,and
OnlyThenShallWeFindCourage(1946) aspirationstowhichheclings
becauseoftheirsuperpersonalvalue.
NewYorkTimesMagazine(23June1946)

Manypersonshaveinquiredconcerningarecentmessageofminethat"anewtypeofthinkingisessentialifmankindistosurviveandmovetohigherlevels."
Ofteninevolutionaryprocessesaspeciesmustadapttonewconditionsinordertosurvive.Todaytheatomicbombhasalteredprofoundlythenatureoftheworldasweknowit,andthehumanraceconsequentlyfindsitselfinanewhabitattowhichitmust
adaptitsthinking.
Inlightofnewknowledgeaneventualworldstateisnotjustdesirableinthenameofbrotherhood,itisnecessaryforsurvival...Todaywemustabandoncompetitionandsecurecooperation.Thismustbethecentralfactinallour
considerationsofinternationalaffairsotherwisewefacecertaindisaster.Pastthinkingandmethodsdidnotpreventworldwars.Futurethinkingmustpreventwars.

Astheissuesaregreaterthanmeneversoughttorealizebefore,therecriminationswillbefiercerandpridemoredesperatelyhurt.Itmayhelptorecallthatmanyrecognizedbeforethebombeverfellthatthetime
hadalreadycomewhenwemustlearntoliveinOneWorld.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 18/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
hadalreadycomewhenwemustlearntoliveinOneWorld.
Thestakesareimmense,thetaskcolossal,thetimeisshort.Butwemayhopewemusthopethatmansowncreation,mansowngenius,willnotdestroyhim.Scholars,indeedallmen,
mustmoveforwardinthefaithofthatphilosopherwhoheldthatthereisnoproblemthehumanreasoncanpropoundwhichthehumanreasoncannotreasonout.

ReligionandScience:Irreconcilable?(1948)

TheChristianRegister(June1948)republishedinIdeasandOpinions(1954)Fulltextonline(http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/irrec.html)

Doestheretrulyexistaninsuperablecontradictionbetweenreligionandscience?Canreligionbesupersededbyscience?Theanswerstothesequestionshave,forcenturies,givenriseto
considerabledisputeand,indeed,bitterfighting.Yet,inmyownmindtherecanbenodoubtthatinbothcasesadispassionateconsiderationcanonlyleadtoanegativeanswer.Whatcomplicates
thesolution,however,isthefactthatwhilemostpeoplereadilyagreeonwhatismeantby"science,"theyarelikelytodifferonthemeaningof"religion."

Science,intheimmediate,producesknowledgeand,indirectly,meansofaction.Itleadstomethodicalactionifdefinitegoalsaresetupinadvance.Forthefunctionofsettingupgoalsand
passingstatementsofvaluetranscendsitsdomain.Whileitistruethatscience,totheextentofitsgraspofcausativeconnections,mayreachimportantconclusionsastothecompatibilityandincompatibilityof
goalsandevaluations,theindependentandfundamentaldefinitionsregardinggoalsandvaluesremainbeyondscience'sreach. Areligiouspersonisdevoutinthe
Asregardsreligion,ontheotherhand,oneisgenerallyagreedthatitdealswithgoalsandevaluationsand,ingeneral,withtheemotionalfoundationofhumanthinkingandacting,asfarasthesearenot sensethathehasnodoubtofthe
predeterminedbytheinalterablehereditarydispositionofthehumanspecies.Religionisconcernedwithman'sattitudetowardnatureatlarge,withtheestablishingofidealsfortheindividualand significanceandloftinessofthose
communallife,andwithmutualhumanrelationship.Theseidealsreligionattemptstoattainbyexertinganeducationalinfluenceontraditionandthroughthedevelopmentandpromulgationofcertaineasily superpersonalobjectsandgoals
accessiblethoughtsandnarratives(epicsandmyths)whichareapttoinfluenceevaluationandactionalongthelinesoftheacceptedideals. whichneitherrequirenorarecapable
ofrationalfoundation.Theyexist
Itisthismythical,orratherthissymbolic,contentofthereligioustraditionswhichislikelytocomeintoconflictwithscience.Thisoccurswheneverthisreligiousstockofideascontainsdogmaticallyfixedstatements withthesamenecessityandmatter
onsubjectswhichbelonginthedomainofscience.Thus,itisofvitalimportanceforthepreservationoftruereligionthatsuchconflictsbeavoidedwhentheyarisefromsubjectswhich,infact,arenotreallyessential offactnessashehimself.
forthepursuanceofthereligiousaims.

Themoralattitudesofapeoplethatissupportedbyreligionneedalwaysaimatpreservingandpromotingthesanityandvitalityofthecommunityanditsindividuals,sinceotherwisethiscommunityisboundto
perish.Apeoplethatweretohonorfalsehood,defamation,fraud,andmurderwouldbeunable,indeed,tosubsistforverylong.

Thegreatmoralteachersofhumanitywere,inaway,artisticgeniusesintheartofliving.

Whilereligionprescribesbrotherlyloveintherelationsamongtheindividualsandgroups,theactualspectaclemoreresemblesabattlefieldthananorchestra.Everywhere,ineconomicaswellas
inpoliticallife,theguidingprincipleisoneofruthlessstrivingforsuccessattheexpenseofone'sfellowmen.Thiscompetitivespiritprevailseveninschooland,destroyingallfeelingsofhumanfraternityand
cooperation,conceivesofachievementnotasderivedfromtheloveforproductiveandthoughtfulwork,butasspringingfrompersonalambitionandfearofrejection.
Sciencewithoutreligionislame,
Therearepessimistswhoholdthatsuchastateofaffairsisnecessarilyinherentinhumannatureitisthosewhopropoundsuchviewsthataretheenemiesoftruereligion,fortheyimply religionwithoutscienceisblind.
therebythatreligiousteachingsareUtopianidealsandunsuitedtoaffordguidanceinhumanaffairs.Thestudyofthesocialpatternsincertainsocalledprimitivecultures,however,seemstohavemadeit
sufficientlyevidentthatsuchadefeatistviewiswhollyunwarranted.

Whileitistruethatscientificresultsareentirelyindependentfromreligiousormoralconsiderations,thoseindividualstowhomweowethegreatcreativeachievementsofsciencewereallofthemimbuedwiththe
trulyreligiousconvictionthatthisuniverseofoursissomethingperfectandsusceptibletotherationalstrivingforknowledge.Ifthisconvictionhadnotbeenastronglyemotionaloneandifthosesearchingfor
knowledgehadnotbeeninspiredbySpinoza'sAmorDeiIntellectualis,theywouldhardlyhavebeencapableofthatuntiringdevotionwhichaloneenablesmantoattainhisgreatestachievements.

"AutobiographicalNotes"(1949)

PublishedinAlbertEinstein:PhilosopherScientist(http://www.worldcat.org/title/alberteinsteinphilosopherscientist/oclc/311439)(1949)editedbyPaulA.Schilpp.ReprintedinAStubbornlyPersistentIllusion:TheEssential
ScientificWorksofAlbertEinstein(2009)editedbyStephenHawking,p.339(http://books.google.com/books?id=th3Cpu_QYVQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA339#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Adoctrinewhichisabletomaintain
EvenwhenIwasafairlyprecociousyoungmanthenothingnessofthehopesandstrivingswhichchasesmostmenrestlesslythroughlifecametomyconsciousnesswithconsiderablevitality.Moreover,Isoon itselfnotinclearlightbutonlyinthe
discoveredthecrueltyofthatchase,whichinthoseyearswasmuchmorecarefullycoveredupbyhypocrisyandglitteringwordsthanisthecasetoday.Bythemereexistenceofhisstomacheveryonewas dark,willofnecessityloseitseffect
onmankind,withincalculableharmto
condemnedtoparticipateinthatchase.Moreover,itwaspossibletosatisfythestomachbysuchparticipation,butnotmaninsofarasheisathinkingandfeelingbeing.Asthefirstwayouttherewasreligion,
humanprogress.
whichisimplantedintoeverychildbywayofthetraditionaleducationmachine.ThusIcamedespitethefactthatIwasthesonofentirelyirreligious(Jewish)parentstoadeepreligiosity,which,
however,foundanabruptendingattheageof12.ThroughthereadingofpopularscientificbooksIsoonreachedtheconvictionthatmuchinthestoriesoftheBiblecouldnotbetrue.Theconsequencewasa
positivelyfanatic[orgyof]freethinkingcoupledwiththeimpressionthatyouthisintentionallybeingdeceivedbythestatethroughliesitwasacrushingimpression.Suspicionagainsteverykindofauthoritygrewoutofthisexperience,askeptical
attitudetowardstheconvictionswhichwerealiveinanyspecificsocialenvironmentanattitudewhichhasneveragainleftme,eventhoughlateron,becauseofabetterinsightintothecausal
connections,itlostsomeofitsoriginalpoignancy.

Itisquitecleartomethatthereligiousparadiseofyouth,whichwasthuslost,wasafirstattempttofreemyselffromthechainsofthe"merelypersonal,"fromanexistencewhichisdominated
bywishes,hopesandprimitivefeelings.Outyondertherewasthishugeworld,whichexistsindependentlyofushumanbeingsandwhichstandsbeforeuslikeagreat,eternalriddle,atleastpartiallyaccessible
toourinspectionandthinking.Thecontemplationofthisworldbeckonedlikealiberation,andIsoonnoticedthatmanyamanwhomIhadlearnedtoesteemandtoadmirehadfoundinnerfreedomandsecurityin
devotedoccupationwithit.Thementalgraspofthisextrapersonalworldwithintheframeofthegivenpossibilitesswamashighestaimhalfconsciouslyandhalfunconsciouslybeforemymind'seye.Similarly
motivatedmenofthepresentandofthepast,aswellastheinsightswhichtheyhadachieved,werethefriendswhichcouldnotbelost.Theroadtothisparadisewasnotascomfortableandalluringasthe
roadtothereligiousparadisebutithasproveditselfastrustworthy,andIhaveneverregrettedhavingchosenit.
Sciencenotonlypurifiesthereligious
Formeitisnotdubiousthatourthinkinggoesonforthemostpartwithoutuseofsigns(words)andbeyondthattoaconsiderabledegreeunconsciously.Forhow,otherwise,shouldithappenthatsometimeswe impulseofthedrossofits
"wonder"quitespontaneouslyaboutsomeexperience?This"wondering"seemstooccurwhenanexperiencecomesintoconflictwithaworldofconceptswhichisalreadysufficientlyfixedinus.Wheneversucha anthropomorphismbutalso
conflictisexperiencedhardandintensivelyitreactsbackuponourthoughtworldinadecisiveway.Thedevelopmentofthisthoughtworldisinacertainsenseacontinuousflightfrom"wonder." contributestoareligious
spiritualizationofourunderstanding
AwonderofsuchnatureIexperiencedasachildof4or5years,whenmyfathershowedmeacompass.Thatthisneedlebehavedinsuchadeterminedwaydidnotatallfitintothenatureofevents, oflife.
whichcouldfindaplaceintheunconsciousworldofconcepts(effectconnectedwithdirect"touch").IcanstillrememberoratleastbelieveIcanrememberthatthisexperiencemadeadeepandlasting
impressionuponme.Somethingdeeplyhiddenhadtobebehindthings.Whatmanseesbeforehimfrominfancycausesnoreactionofthiskindheisnotsurprisedoverthefallingofbodies,concerningwindand
rain,norconcerningthemoonoraboutthefactthatthemoondoesnotfalldown,norconcerningthedifferencesbetweenlivingandnonlivingmatter.
Attheageof12Iexperiencedasecondwonderofatotallydifferentnature:inalittlebookdealingwithEuclideanplanegeometry,whichcameintomyhandsatthebeginningofaschoolyear.Herewereassertions,
asforexampletheintersectionofthethreealtitudesofatriangleinonepoint,whichthoughbynomeansevidentcouldneverthelessbeprovedwithsuchcertaintythatanydoubtappearedtobeoutofthe
question.Thislucidityandcertaintymadeanindescribableimpressionuponme.Thattheaxiomshadtobeacceptedunproveddidnotdisturbme.InanycaseitwasquitesufficientformeifIcouldpegproofsupon
propositionsthevalidityofwhichdidnotseemtometobedubious.

[O]nehadtocramallthisstuffintoone'smindforexaminations,whetheronelikeditornot.Thiscoercionhadsuchadeterringeffect[uponme]that,afterIhadpassedthefinalexamination,Ifoundthe
considerationofanyscientificproblemsdistastefultomeforanentireyear.

Itis,infact,nothingshortofamiraclethatthemodernmethodsofinstructionhavenotyetentirelystrangledtheholycuriosityofinquiryforthisdelicatelittleplant,asidefromstimulation,standsmainlyinneedof
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 19/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Itis,infact,nothingshortofamiraclethatthemodernmethodsofinstructionhavenotyetentirelystrangledtheholycuriosityofinquiryforthisdelicatelittleplant,asidefromstimulation,standsmainlyinneedof
freedomwithoutthisitgoestowreckandruinwithoutfail.Itisaverygravemistaketothinkthattheenjoymentofseeingandsearchingcanbepromotedbymeansofcoercionandasenseofduty.

Atheoryisthemoreimpressivethegreaterthesimplicityofitspremisesis,themoredifferentkindsofthingsitrelates,andthemoreextendedisitsareaofapplicability.Thereforethedeepimpressionwhich
classicalthermodynamicsmadeuponme.ItistheonlyphysicaltheoryofuniversalcontentconcerningwhichIamconvincedthat,withintheframeworkoftheapplicabilityofitsbasicconcepts,it
willneverbeoverthrown(forthespecialattentionofthosewhoareskepticsonprinciple). Todaywemustabandoncompetition
andsecurecooperation.Thismustbe
Reflectionsofthistypemadeitcleartomeaslongagoasshortlyafter1900,i.e.,shortlyafterPlanck'strailblazingwork,thatneithermechanicsnorelectrodynamicscould(exceptinlimitingcases)claimexact
thecentralfactinallour
validity.ByandbyIdespairedofthepossibilityofdiscoveringthetruelawsbymeansofconstructiveeffortsbasedonknownfacts.ThelongerandthemoredespairinglyItried,themoreIcametotheconviction considerationsofinternationalaffairs
thatonlythediscoveryofauniversalformalprinciplecouldleadustoassuredresults....How,then,couldsuchauniversalprinciplebefound?Aftertenyearsofreflectionsuchaprincipleresultedfroma otherwisewefacecertaindisaster.
paradoxuponwhichIhadalreadyhitattheageofsixteen:IfIpursueabeamoflightwiththevelocityc(velocityoflightinavacuum),Ishouldobservesuchabeamasaspatiallyoscillatory
electromagneticfieldatrest.However,thereseemstobenosuchthing,whetheronthebasesofexperienceoraccordingtoMaxwell'sequations.Fromtheverybeginningitappearedtome
intuitivelyclearthat,judgedfromthestandpointofsuchanobserver,everythingwouldhavetohappenaccordingtothesamelawsasforanobserverwho,relativetotheearth,wasatrest.

TheWorldAsISeeIt(1949)

ForthetitleessayinthisworkseeMeinWeltbild(1931)above.

TheMeaningofLife

Whatisthemeaningofhumanlife,oroforganiclifealtogether?Toanswerthisquestionatallimpliesareligion.Isthereanysensethen,youask,inputtingit?Ianswer,themanwhoregardshisownlifeandthatofhisfellowcreaturesas
meaninglessisnotmerelyunfortunatebutalmostdisqualifiedforlife.

GoodandEvil

Thetruevalueofahumanbeingisdeterminedprimarilybythemeasureandthesenseinwhichhehasattainedtoliberationfromtheself.

SocietyandPersonality

Whenwesurveyourlivesandendeavorswesoonobservethatalmostthewholeofouractionsanddesiresareboundupwiththeexistenceofotherhumanbeings.Weseethatourwholenature
resemblesthatofthesocialanimals.Weeatfoodthatothershavegrown,wearclothesthatothershavemade,liveinhousesthatothershavebuilt.Thegreaterpartofourknowledgeandbeliefshasbeen
communicatedtousbyotherpeoplethroughthemediumofalanguagewhichothershavecreated.Withoutlanguageourmentalcapacitieswouldbepoorindeed,comparabletothoseofthehigheranimalswe
have,therefore,toadmitthatweoweourprincipaladvantageoverthebeaststothefactoflivinginhumansociety.Theindividual,ifleftalonefrombirthwouldremainprimitiveandbeastlikeinhis
thoughtsandfeelingstoadegreethatwecanhardlyconceive.Theindividualiswhatheisandhasthesignificancethathehasnotsomuchinvirtueofhisindividuality,butratherasamember
ofagreathumansociety,whichdirectshismaterialandspiritualexistencefromthecradletothegrave.

Aman'svaluetothecommunitydependsprimarilyonhowfarhisfeelings,thoughts,andactionsaredirectedtowardspromotingthegoodofhisfellows.Wecallhimgoodorbadaccordingtohow
hestandsinthismatter.Itlooksatfirstsightasifourestimateofamandependedentirelyonhissocialqualities.
Andyetsuchanattitudewouldbewrong.Itisclearthatallthevaluablethings,material,spiritual,andmoral,whichwereceivefromsocietycanbetracedbackthroughcountlessgenerationstocertaincreative
individuals.Theuseoffire,thecultivationofedibleplants,thesteamengineeachwasdiscoveredbyoneman.
Onlytheindividualcanthink,andtherebycreatenewvaluesforsocietynay,evensetupnewmoralstandardstowhichthelifeofthecommunityconforms.Withoutcreative,independently
thinkingandjudgingpersonalitiestheupwarddevelopmentofsocietyisasunthinkableasthedevelopmentoftheindividualpersonalitywithoutthenourishingsoilofthecommunity.
Religionisconcernedwithman's
Thehealthofsocietythusdependsquiteasmuchontheindependenceoftheindividualscomposingitasontheirclosepoliticalcohesion. attitudetowardnatureatlarge,with
theestablishingofidealsforthe
OfWealth
individualandcommunallife,and
Iamabsolutelyconvincedthatnowealthintheworldcanhelphumanityforward,eveninthehandsofthemostdevotedworkerinthiscause.Theexampleofgreatandpurecharactersistheonlythingthat withmutualhumanrelationship.
canproducefineideasandnobledeeds.Moneyonlyappealstoselfishnessandalwaystemptsitsownersirresistiblytoabuseit.
CananyoneimagineMoses,Jesus,orGandhiarmedwiththemoneybagsofCarnegie?

ReligioninScience

Youwillhardlyfindoneamongtheprofoundersortofscientificmindswithoutapeculiarreligiousfeelingofhisown.Butitisdifferentfromthereligionofthenaiveman.ForthelatterGodisa
beingfromwhosecareonehopestobenefitandwhosepunishmentonefearsasublimationofafeelingsimilartothatofachildforitsfather,abeingtowhomonestandstosomeextentina
personalrelation,howeverdeeplyitmaybetingedwithawe.Butthescientistispossessedbythesenseofuniversalcausation.Thefuture,tohim,iseverywhitasnecessaryanddeterminedas
thepast.Thereisnothingdivineaboutmorality,itisapurelyhumanaffair.Hisreligiousfeelingtakestheformofarapturousamazementattheharmonyofnaturallaw,whichrevealsan
intelligenceofsuchsuperioritythat,comparedwithit,allthesystematicthinkingandactingofhumanbeingsisanutterlyinsignificantreflection.Thisfeelingistheguidingprincipleofhislifeand
work,insofarashesucceedsinkeepinghimselffromtheshacklesofselfishdesire.Itisbeyondquestioncloselyakintothatwhichhaspossessedthereligiousgeniusesofallages.

GreetingtoG.BernardShaw

Therearefewenoughpeoplewithsufficientindependencetoseetheweaknessesandfolliesoftheircontemporariesandremainthemselvesuntouchedbythem.Andtheseisolatedfewusuallysoon
losetheirzealforputtingthingstorightswhentheyhavecomefacetofacewithhumanobduracy.Onlytoatinyminorityisitgiventofascinatetheirgenerationbysubtlehumourandgraceandtohold
themirroruptoitbytheimpersonalagencyofart.TodayIsalutewithsincereemotionthesuprememasterofthismethod,whohasdelightedandeducatedusall.

SomeNotesonmyAmericanImpressions Thegreatmoralteachersofhumanity
were,inaway,artisticgeniusesin
firstpublishedas"MyFirstImpressionoftheU.S.A."(1921) theartofliving.

Thecultofindividualpersonalitiesisalways,inmyview,unjustified.Tobesure,naturedistributeshergiftsvariouslyamongherchildren.Butthereareplentyofthewellendowedonestoo,thankGod,andIam
firmlyconvincedthatmostofthemlivequiet,unregardedlives.Itstrikesmeasunfair,andeveninbadtaste,toselectafewofthemforboundlessadmiration,attributingsuperhumanpowersofmindandcharactertothem.Thishasbeenmyfate,andthe
contrastbetweenthepopularestimateofmypowersandachievementsandtherealityissimplygrotesque.Theconsciousnessofthisextraordinarystateofaffairswouldbeunbearablebutforonegreatconsolingthought:itisawelcome
symptominanagewhichiscommonlydenouncedasmaterialistic,thatitmakesheroesofmenwhoseambitionsliewhollyintheintellectualandmoralsphere.Thisprovesthatknowledgeandjusticearerankedabovewealthand
powerbyalargesectionofthehumanrace.MyexperienceteachesmethatthisidealisticoutlookisparticularlyprevalentinAmerica,whichisusuallydecriedasaparticularlymaterialisticcountry.

Theprestigeofgovernmenthasundoubtedlybeenloweredconsiderablybytheprohibitionlaw.Fornothingismoredestructiveofrespectforthegovernmentandthelawofthelandthanpassinglawswhichcannotbeenforced.Itis
anopensecretthatthedangerousincreaseofcrimeintheUnitedStatesiscloselyconnectedwiththis.

TheUnitedStatesisthemostpowerfultechnicallyadvancedcountryintheworldtoday.Itsinfluenceontheshapingofinternationalrelationsisabsolutelyincalculable.ButAmericaisalargecountryanditspeoplehavesofarnotshownmuchinterestin
greatinternationalproblems,amongwhichtheproblemofdisarmamentoccupiesfirstplacetoday.Thismustbechanged,ifonlyintheessentialinterestsoftheAmericans.Thelastwarhasshownthattherearenolongeranybarriersbetweenthecontinents
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 20/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
greatinternationalproblems,amongwhichtheproblemofdisarmamentoccupiesfirstplacetoday.Thismustbechanged,ifonlyintheessentialinterestsoftheAmericans.Thelastwarhasshownthattherearenolongeranybarriersbetweenthecontinents
andthatthedestiniesofallcountriesarecloselyinterwoven.Thepeopleofthiscountrymustrealizethattheyhaveagreatresponsibilityinthesphereofinternationalpolitics.Thepartofpassivespectatorisunworthyofthiscountryandisboundintheendto
leadtodisasterallround.

LettertoaFriendofPeace

Smallisthenumberofthemthatseewiththeirowneyesandfeelwiththeirownhearts

ProductionandWork

Bureaucracyisthedeathofallsoundwork.

ChristianityandJudaism

IfonepurgestheJudaismoftheProphetsandChristianityasJesusChristtaughtitofallsubsequentadditions,especiallythoseofthepriests,oneisleftwithateachingwhichiscapableof
curingallthesocialillsofhumanity.
Itisthedutyofeverymanofgoodwilltostrivesteadfastlyinhisownlittleworldtomakethisteachingofpurehumanityalivingforce,sofarashecan.Ifhemakesanhonestattemptinthis
directionwithoutbeingcrushedandtrampledunderfootbyhiscontemporaries,hemayconsiderhimselfandthecommunitytowhichhebelongslucky.

Unconfirmed:

ThefollowingquoteshavebeencitedasbeingfromTheWorldAsISeeItbutarenotinlaterabridgededitionsoftheoriginal1949bookandthusthesecitationsarenotyetconfirmed.
Themanwhoregardshisownlife
Maytheconscienceandthecommonsenseofthepeoplesbeawakened,sothatwemayreachanewstageinthelifeofnations,wherepeoplewilllookbackonwarasanincomprehensibleaberrationoftheir
andthatofhisfellowcreaturesas
forefathers!
meaninglessisnotmerelyunfortunate
Thestateismadeforman,notmanforthestate.Andinthisrespectscienceresemblesthestate. butalmostdisqualifiedforlife.

WhySocialism?(1949)

MonthlyReview[5](http://www.monthlyreview.org/598einst.htm)NewYork(May1949)

Modernanthropologyhastaughtus,throughcomparativeinvestigationofsocalledprimitivecultures,thatthesocialbehaviorofhumanbeingsmaydiffergreatly,dependinguponprevailing
culturalpatternsandthetypesoforganisationwhichpredominateinsociety.Itisonthisthatthosewhoarestrivingtoimprovethelotofmanmaygroundtheirhopes:humanbeingsarenotcondemned,
becauseoftheirbiologicalconstitution,toannihilateeachotherortobeatthemercyofacruel,selfinflictedfate.

Theownerofthemeansofproductionisinapositiontopurchasethelaborpoweroftheworker.Byusingthemeansofproduction,theworkerproducesnewgoodswhichbecomethepropertyofthecapitalist.
Theessentialpointaboutthisprocessistherelationbetweenwhattheworkerproducesandwhatheispaid,bothmeasuredintermsofrealvalue.Insofarasthelaborcontractisfreewhattheworkerreceivesis
determinednotbytherealvalueofthegoodsheproduces,butbyhisminimumneedsandbythecapitalists'requirementsforlaborpowerinrelationtothenumberofworkerscompetingforjobs.Itisimportant
tounderstandthatevenintheorythepaymentoftheworkerisnotdeterminedbythevalueofhisproduct.

IhavenowreachedthepointwhereImayindicatebrieflywhattomeconstitutestheessenceofthecrisisofourtime.Itconcernstherelationshipoftheindividualtosociety.Theindividualhas
becomemoreconsciousthaneverofhisdependenceuponsociety.Buthedoesnotexperiencethisdependenceasapositiveasset,asanorganictie,asaprotectiveforce,butratherasathreat
tohisnaturalrights,oreventohiseconomicexistence.Moreover,hispositioninsocietyissuchthattheegotisticaldrivesofhismakeupareconstantlybeingaccentuated,whilehissocialdrives,whichareby
natureweaker,progressivelydeteriorate.Allhumanbeings,whatevertheirpositioninsociety,aresufferingfromthisprocessofdeterioration.Unknowinglyprisonersoftheirownegotism,theyfeel Theexampleofgreatandpure
insecure,lonely,anddeprivedofthenaive,simple,andunsophisticatedenjoymentoflife.Mancanfindmeaninginlife,shortandperilousasitis,onlythroughdevotinghimselftosociety. charactersistheonlythingthatcan
producefineideasandnobledeeds.
Theeconomicanarchyofcapitalistsocietyasitexiststodayis,inmyopinion,therealsourceoftheevil.Weseebeforeusahugecommunityofproducersthemembersofwhichareunceasinglystriving
todepriveeachotherofthefruitsoftheircollectivelabornotbyforce,butonthewholeinfaithfulcompliancewithlegallyestablishedrules.

Iamconvincedthereisonlyonewaytoeliminatethesegraveevils,namelythroughtheestablishmentofasocialisteconomy,accompaniedbyaneducationalsystemwhichwouldbeorientedtowardsocialgoals.

Nevertheless,itisnecessarytorememberthataplannedeconomyisnotyetsocialism.Aplannedeconomyassuchmaybeaccompaniedbythecompleteenslavementoftheindividual.Theachievementofsocialismrequiresthesolution
ofsomeextremelydifficultsociopoliticalproblems:howisitpossible,inviewofthefarreachingcentralisationofpoliticalandeconomicpower,topreventbureaucracyfrombecomingallpowerfulandoverweening?Howcantherightsoftheindividual
beprotectedandtherewithademocraticcounterweighttothepowerofbureaucracybeassured?

Privatecapitaltendstobecomeconcentratedinfewhands,partlybecauseofcompetitionamongthecapitalists,andpartlybecausetechnologicaldevelopmentandtheincreasingdivisionoflaborencouragetheformationoflargerunitsofproductionatthe
expenseofsmallerones.Theresultsofthesedevelopmentsisanoligarchyofprivatecapital,theenormouspowerofwhichcannotbeeffectivelycheckedevenbyademocraticallyorganizedpoliticalsociety....Moreover,underexistingconditions,private
capitalistsinevitablycontrol,directlyorindirectly,themainsourcesofinformation(press,radio,education).Itisthusextremelydifficult,andindeedinmostcasesquiteimpossible,fortheindividualcitizentocometoobjectiveconclusionsandtomake
intelligentuseofhispoliticalrights.

Clarityabouttheaimsandproblemsofsocialismisofgreatestsignificanceinourageoftransition.Since,underpresentcircumstances,freeandunhindereddiscussionoftheseproblemshascomeunderapowerfultaboo,Iconsiderthe
foundationofthismagazinetobeanimportantpublicservice.
ReferringtotheMonthlyReview,inwhichtheessaywaspublished.

OntheGeneralizedTheoryofGravitation(1950)

ScientificAmerican(April1950)

Thisisthereasonwhyallattemptstoobtainadeeperknowledgeofthefoundationsofphysicsseemdoomedtomeunlessthebasicconceptsareinaccordancewithgeneralrelativityfromthebeginning.Thissituationmakesitdifficulttouseourempirical
knowledge,howevercomprehensive,inlookingforthefundamentalconceptsandrelationsofphysics,anditforcesustoapplyfreespeculationtoamuchgreaterextentthanispresentlyassumedbymostphysicists.

Idonotseeanyreasontoassumethattheheuristicsignificanceoftheprincipleofgeneralrelativityisrestrictedtogravitationandthattherestofphysicscanbedealtwithseparatelyonthebasisofspecialrelativity,withthehopethatlateronthewholemay
befittedconsistentlyintoageneralrelativisticscheme.Idonotthinkthatsuchanattitude,althoughhistoricallyunderstandable,canbeobjectivelyjustified.Thecomparativesmallnessofwhatweknowtodayasgravitationaleffectsisnotaconclusivereason
forignoringtheprincipleofgeneralrelativityintheoreticalinvestigationsofafundamentalcharacter.Inotherwords,Idonotbelievethatitisjustifiabletoask:Whatwouldphysicslooklikewithoutgravitation?

OutofMyLaterYears(1950)

AcollectionofEinstein'sessayswhichcoveraperiodof1934to1950.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 21/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
AcollectionofEinstein'sessayswhichcoveraperiodof1934to1950.

Whatissignificantinone'sownexistenceoneishardlyaware,anditcertainlyshouldnotbothertheotherfellow.Whatdoesafishknowaboutthewaterinwhichheswimsallhislife?
"SelfPortrait"(1936),p.5(http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Thisfreedomofcommunicationisindispensableforthedevelopmentandextensionofscientificknowledge,aconsiderationofmuchpracticalimport.Inthefirstinstanceitmustbeguaranteedbylaw.Butlaws
alonecannotsecurefreedomofexpressioninorderthateverymanmaypresenthisviewswithoutpenaltytheremustbeaspiritoftoleranceintheentirepopulation.Suchanidealofexternal
libertycanneverbefullyattainedbutmustbesoughtunremittinglyifscientificthought,andphilosophicalandcreativethinkingingeneral,aretobeadvancedasfaraspossible.
"OnFreedom"(1940),p.13(http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA13#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Iliveinthatsolitudewhichispainfulinyouth,butdeliciousintheyearsofmaturity.
"SelfPortrait"(1936),p.5(http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Theveryfactthatthetotalityofoursenseexperienceissuchthatbymeansofthinking(operationswithconcepts,andthecreationanduseofdefinitefunctionalrelationsbetweenthem,andthecoordinationof
senseexperiencetotheseconcepts)itcanbeputinorder,thisfactisonewhichleavesusinawe,butwhichweshallneverunderstand.Onemaysay"theeternalmysteryoftheworldisits
comprehensibility."...Inspeakinghereconcerning"comprehensibility,"theexpressionisusedinitsmostmodestsense.Itimplies:theproductionofsomesortoforderamongsenseimpressions,thisorderbeing Theprestigeofgovernmenthas
producedbythecreationofgeneralconcepts,relationsbetweentheseconcepts,andbyrelationsbetweentheconceptsandsenseexperience,theserelationsbeingdeterminedinanypossiblemanner.Itisinthis undoubtedlybeenlowered
sensethattheworldofoursenseexperienceiscomprehensible.Thefactthatitiscomprehensibleisamiracle. considerablybytheprohibitionlaw...
"PhysicsandReality"(1936),p.61(http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA61#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Everythingthatisreallygreatandinspiringiscreatedbytheindividualwhocanlaborinfreedom.
"MoralsandEmotions"(1938),p.19(http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA19#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Intelligencemakescleartoustheinterrelationofmeansandends.Butmerethinkingcannotgiveusasenseoftheultimateandfundamentalends.Tomakeclearthesefundamentalendsandvaluations,andtoset
themfastintheemotionallifeoftheindividual,seemstomepreciselythemostimportantfunctionwhichreligionhastoperforminthesociallifeofman.
"ScienceandReligion"(19391941),p.22(http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA22#v=onepage&q&f=false)

ThehighestprinciplesforouraspirationsandjudgmentsaregiventousintheJewishChristianreligioustradition.Itisaveryhighgoalwhich,withourweakpowers,wecanreachonlyvery
inadequately,butwhichgivesasurefoundationtoouraspirationsandvaluations.
"ScienceandReligion"(19391941),p.23(http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA23#v=onepage&q&f=false) IfonepurgestheJudaismofthe
ProphetsandChristianityasJesus
Forscientificendeavorisanaturalwholethepartsofwhichmutuallysupportoneanotherinawaywhich,tobesure,noonecananticipate. Christtaughtitofallsubsequent
"OnFreedom"(1940),p.12(http://books.google.com/books?id=Q1UxYzuI2oQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA12#v=onepage&q&f=false) additions,especiallythoseofthe
priests,oneisleftwithateaching
Andcertainlyweshouldtakecarenottomaketheintellectourgodithas,ofcourse,powerfulmuscles,butnopersonality.Itcannotlead,itcanonlyserveanditisnotfastidiousinitschoiceofa whichiscapableofcuringallthe
leader.Thischaracteristicisreflectedinthequalitiesofitspriests,theintellectuals.Theintellecthasasharpeyeformethodsandtools,butisblindtoendsandvalues.Soitisnowonderthatthisfatal socialillsofhumanity.
blindnessishandedonfromoldtoyoungandtodayinvolvesawholegeneration.
"TheGoalofHumanExistence"(1943)

Everyoneisawareofthedifficultandmenacingsituationinwhichhumansocietyshrunkintoonecommunitywithacommonfatefindsitself,butonlyafewactaccordingly.Mostpeoplegoonlivingtheireverydaylife:halffrightened,
halfindifferent,theybeholdtheghostlytragicomedywhichisbeingperformedontheinternationalstagebeforetheeyesandearsoftheworld.Butonthatstage,onwhichtheactorsunderthefloodlightsplaytheirordainedparts,ourfateoftomorrow,life
ordeathofthenations,isbeingdecided.
"TheMenaceofMassDestruction"(1947)

OnestrengthofthecommunistsystemoftheEastisthatithassomeofthecharacterofareligionandinspirestheemotionsofareligion.Unlesstheconceptofpeacebasedonlawgathersbehindittheforceandzealofareligion,itcanhardlyhopeto
succeed.
"AtomicWarorPeace"partII(1947)

Ethicalaxiomsarefoundedandtestednotverydifferentlyfromtheaxiomsofscience.Truthiswhatstandsthetestofexperience.
"TheLawsofScienceandtheLawsofEthics"(1950)

EssaytoLeoBaeck(1953)

StatementsbyEinsteinfromEssaysPresentedtoLeoBaeckontheOccasionofHisEightiethBirthday(1954),p.26Baeck'sbirthdaywas23May1953EinsteinArchives28962.SomequotesarefromTheNewQuotableEinstein(2005)
editedbyAliceCalaprice,pp.120121,othersfromIdeasandOpinionsbyAlbertEinstein(1954),wheretheyappearinthesection"AphorismsforLeoBaeck."

WhoeverundertakestosethimselfupasajudgeofTruthandKnowledgeisshipwreckedbythelaughterofthegods.
TheNewQuotableEinstein

Inordertobeaperfectmemberofaflockofsheep,onehastobe,foremost,asheep.
TheNewQuotableEinstein
varianttranslationfromIdeasandOpinions:"Inordertoformanimmaculatememberofaflockofsheeponemust,aboveall,beasheep."

Hailtothemanwhowentthroughlifealwayshelpingothers,knowingnofear,andtowhomaggressivenessandresentmentarealien.Suchisthestuffofwhichthegreatmoralleadersaremade.
TheNewQuotableEinstein
varianttranslationfromIdeasandOpinions:"Isalutethemanwhoisgoingthroughlifealwayshelpful,knowingnofear,andtowhomaggressivenessandresentmentarealien.Suchisthestuffofwhichthe
greatmoralleadersaremadewhoprofferconsolationtomankindintheirselfcreatedmiseries."

Theattempttocombinewisdomandpowerhasonlyrarelybeensuccessful,andthenonlyforashortwhile.
TheNewQuotableEinstein Whoeverundertakestosethimselfup
asajudgeofTruthandKnowledgeis
Fewpeoplearecapableofexpressingwithequanimityopinionsthatdifferfromtheprejudicesoftheirsocialenvironment.Mostpeopleareevenincapableofformingsuchopinions. shipwreckedbythelaughterofthe
TheNewQuotableEinstein gods.

Manusuallyavoidsattributingclevernesstosomebodyelseunlessitisanenemy.
IdeasandOpinions

Themajorityofthestupidisinvincibleandguaranteedforalltime.Theterroroftheirtyranny,however,isalleviatedbytheirlackofconsistency.
IdeasandOpinions

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 22/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Thecontrastsandcontradictionsthatcanpermanentlylivepeacefullysidebysideinaskullmakeallthesystemsofpoliticaloptimistsandpessimistsillusory.
IdeasandOpinions

Joyinlookingandcomprehendingisnature'smostbeautifulgift.
IdeasandOpinions

AlbertEinstein:TheHumanSide(1979)

HelenDukasandBaneshHoffmann,AlbertEinstein,TheHumanSide:NewGlimpsesFromHisArchives(1979)

Inthepastitneveroccurredtomethateverycasualremarkofminewouldbesnatchedupandrecorded.OtherwiseIwouldhavecreptfurtherintomyshell.
LettertoCarlSeelig(25October1953),p.22

NeverbeforehaveIlivedthroughastormliketheonethisnight.Theseahasalookofindescribablegrandeur,especiallywhenthesunfallsonit.OnefeelsasifoneisdissolvedandmergedintoNature.Evenmorethanusual,onefeelstheinsignificance
oftheindividual,anditmakesonehappy.
Entryinatraveldiary(10December1931)discussingastormatsea,p.23

Measuredobjectively,whatamancanwrestfromTruthbypassionatestrivingisutterlyinfinitesimal.Butthestrivingfreesusfromthebondsoftheselfandmakesuscomradesofthosewhoarethebestandthegreatest.
AnoteEinsteinwroteunderneathanetchingofhimself(madebyHermannStruck)whichhesenttoafriend,Dr.HansMhsam.Accordingtothebook,"thedateis1920orperhapsearlier",p.24

Therehasbeenanearthforalittlemorethanabillionyears.AsforthequestionoftheendofitIadvise:Waitandsee!
19June51,p.34

Wheretheworldceasestobethesceneofourpersonalhopesandwishes,wherewefaceitasfreebeingsadmiring,asking,observing,thereweentertherealmofArtandScience.Ifwhatisseenandexperiencedisportrayedinthe
languageoflogic,weareengagedinscience.Ifitiscommunicatedthroughformswhoseconnectionsarenotaccessibletotheconsciousmindbutarerecognizedintuitivelyasmeaningful,thenweareengagedinart.
Commontobothisloveanddevotiontothatwhichtranscendspersonalconcernsandvolition.
p.3727January1921

Bodyandsoularenottwodifferentthings,butonlytwodifferentwaysofperceivingthesamething.Similarly,physicsandpsychologyareonlydifferentattemptstolinkourexperiencestogetherbyway
ofsystematicthought.
Aphorism(1937),p.38

Politicsisapendulumwhoseswingsbetweenanarchyandtyrannyarefueledbyperenniallyrejuvenatedillusions.
Aphorism(1937),p.38(http://books.google.com/books?id=T5R7JsRRtoIC&pg=PA38)
Politicsisapendulumwhoseswings
Idonotbelieveinimmortalityoftheindividual,andIconsiderethicstobeanexclusivelyhumanconcernwithnosuperhumanauthoritybehindit. betweenanarchyandtyrannyare
Replytoalettersenttohimon17July1953p.39 fueledbyperpetuallyrejuvenated
illusions.
IhaveneverimputedtoNatureapurposeoragoal,oranythingthatcouldbeunderstoodasanthropomorphic.WhatIseeinNatureisamagnificentstructurethatwecancomprehendonlyveryimperfectly,and
thatmustfillathinkingpersonwithafeelingof"humility."Thisisagenuinelyreligiousfeelingthathasnothingtodowithmysticism.
DraftofaGermanreplytoalettersenttohimin1954or1955,p.39

Themysticaltrendofourtime,whichshowsitselfparticularlyintherampantgrowthofthesocalledTheosophyandSpiritualism,isformenomorethanasymptomofweaknessandconfusion.Sinceourinner
experiencesconsistofreproductionsandcombinationsofsensoryimpressions,theconceptofasoulwithoutabodyseemtometobeemptyanddevoidofmeaning.
Statement(5February1921),p.40

Itwas,ofcourse,aliewhatyoureadaboutmyreligiousconvictions,aliewhichisbeingsystematicallyrepeated.IdonotbelieveinapersonalGodandIhaveneverdeniedthisbuthave
expresseditclearly.Ifsomethingisinmewhichcanbecalledreligiousthenitistheunboundedadmirationforthestructureoftheworldsofarasoursciencecanrevealit.
Lettertoanatheist(24March1954),p.43

Wisdomisnotaproductofschoolingbutofthelifelongattempttoacquireit.
Fromthesame24March1954letterasabove,p.44
Themysticaltrendofourtime,which
Nothingtrulyvaluablearisesfromambitionorfromameresenseofdutyitstemsratherfromloveanddevotiontowardsmenandtowardsobjectivethings. showsitselfparticularlyinthe
Letter(30July1947),p.46 rampantgrowthofthesocalled
TheosophyandSpiritualism,isforme
Somethingthereisthatcanrefreshandrevivifyolderpeople:joyintheactivitiesoftheyoungergenerationajoy,tobesure,thatiscloudedbydarkforebodingsintheseunsettledtimes.Andyet,asalways,the nomorethanasymptomof
springtimesunbringsforthnewlife,andwemayrejoicebecauseofthisnewlifeandcontributetoitsunfoldingandMozartremainsasbeautifulandtenderashealwayswasandalwayswillbe.Thereis,afterall, weaknessandconfusion.
somethingeternalthatliesbeyondreachofthehandoffateandofallhumandelusions.Andsucheternalslieclosertoanolderpersonthantoayoungeroneoscillatingbetweenfearandhope.Forus,thereremains
theprivilegeofexperiencingbeautyandtruthintheirpurestforms.
LettertoQueenMotherElizabethofBelgium(20March,likely1936),writtentoherwhenshewasdepressedovertherecentdeathofherhusbandanddaughterinlaw,p.51

Fallinginloveisnotatallthemoststupidthingthatpeopledobutgravitationcannotbeheldresponsibleforit.
Jotted(inGerman)onthemarginsofalettertohim(1933),p.56
Unsourcedvariants:Gravitationisnotresponsibleforpeoplefallinginlove./Youcan'tblamegravityforfallinginlove.

Scienceisawonderfulthingifonedoesnothavetoearnone'slivingatit.
LettertoCaliforniastudentE.Holzapfel(March1951)EinsteinArchive591013,p.57

Inmyopinion,condemningtheZionistmovementas"nationalistic"isunjustified.ConsiderthepathbywhichHerzlcametohismission.Initiallyhehadbeencompletelycosmopolitan.ButduringtheDreyfustrialinParishesuddenlyrealizedwithgreatclarity
howprecariouswasthesituationoftheJewsinthewesternworld.AndcourageouslyhedrewtheconclusionthatwearediscriminatedagainstormurderednotbecauseweareGermans,Frenchmen,Americans,etc.ofthe"Jewishfaith"butsimplybecause
weareJews.Thusalreadyourprecarioussituationforcesustostandtogetherirrespectiveofourcitizenship.
ZionismgavetheGermanJewsnogreatprotectionagainstannihilation.Butitdidgivethesurvivorstheinnerstrengthtoendurethedebaclewithdignityandwithoutlosingtheirhealthyselfrespect.Keepinmindthatperhapsasimilarfatecouldbelyingin

waitforyourchildren.
c.1946,p.6364

Anonymityisnoexcuseforstupidity.
c.1948,p.54
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 23/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
c.1948,p.54

Myreligiosityconsistsinahumbleadmirationoftheinfinitelysuperiorspiritthatrevealsitselfinthelittlethatwe,withourweakandtransitoryunderstanding,cancomprehendofreality.
Moralityisofthehighestimportancebutforus,notforGod.
p.66ofthe1981edition

ItseemshardtosneakalookatGod'scards.ButthatHeplaysdiceanduses"telepathic"methods...issomethingthatIcannotbelieveforasinglemoment. Nothingtrulyvaluablearisesfrom
LettertoCornelLanczos(21March1942),p.68 ambitionorfromameresenseof
dutyitstemsratherfromloveand
Ourtimeisdistinguishedbywonderfulachievementsinthefieldsofscientificunderstandingandthetechnicalapplicationofthoseinsights.Whowouldnotbecheeredbythis?Butletusnot devotiontowardsmenandtowards
forgetthathumanknowledgeandskillsalonecannotleadhumanitytoahappyanddignifiedlife.Humanityhaseveryreasontoplacetheproclaimersofhighmoralstandardsandvaluesabove objectivethings.
thediscoverersofobjectivetruth.WhathumanityowestopersonalitieslikeBuddha,Moses,andJesusranksformehigherthanalltheachievementsoftheenquiringandconstructivemind.
Whattheseblessedmenhavegivenuswemustguardandtrytokeepalivewithallourstrengthifhumanityisnottoloseitsdignity,thesecurityofitsexistence,anditsjoyinliving.
Writtenstatement(September1937),p.70

Forthemostpartwehumanslivewiththefalseimpressionofsecurityandafeelingofbeingathomeinaseeminglytrustworthyphysicalandhumanenvironment.Butwhentheexpectedcourseof
everydaylifeisinterrupted,wearelikeshipwreckedpeopleonamiserableplankintheopensea,havingforgottenwheretheycamefromandnotknowingwhithertheyaredrifting.Butoncewefullyacceptthis,life
becomeseasierandthereisnolongeranydisappointment.
Letter(26April1945),p.72

Studyandingeneralthepursuitoftruthandbeautyisasphereofactivityinwhichwearepermittedtoremainchildrenallourlives.
LettertoAdriannaEnriques(October1921),p.83

Themostimportanthumanendeavoristhestrivingformoralityinouractions.Ourinnerbalanceandevenourveryexistencedependonit.Onlymoralityinouractionscangivebeautyand
dignitytolife.Tomakethisalivingforceandbringittoclearconsciousnessisperhapstheforemosttaskofeducation.Thefoundationofmoralityshouldnotbemadedependentonmythnortiedtoanyauthority
Fallinginloveisnotatallthemost
lestdoubtaboutthemythoraboutthelegitimacyoftheauthorityimperilthefoundationofsoundjudgmentandaction.
stupidthingthatpeopledobut
LettertotheministerofachurchinBrooklyn(20November1950),p.95.TheministerhadearlierwrittenEinsteinaskingifhewouldsendhimasignedversionofaquoteabouttheCatholicchurch gravitationcannotbeheldresponsible
attributedtoEinsteininTimemagazine(seethe"Misattributed"sectionbelow),andEinsteinhadwrittenbacktosaythequotewasnotcorrect,butthathewas"gladlywillingtowritesomethingelsewhich forit.
wouldsuityourpurpose".Accordingtothebook,theministerreplied"sayinghewasgladthestatementhadnotbeencorrectsincehetoohadreservationsaboutthehistoricalroleoftheChurchatlarge",
andsaidthat"hewouldleavethedecisiontoEinsteinastothetopicofthestatement",towhichEinsteinrepliedwiththestatementabove.

Ifthebelieversofthepresentdayreligionswouldearnestlytrytothinkandactinthespiritofthefoundersofthesereligionsthennohostilityonthebasisofreligionwouldexistamongthefollowersofthedifferent
faiths.Eventheconflictsandtherealmofreligionwouldbeexposedasinsignificant.
StatementtoChristianconference(27January1947),p.96

Philosophyislikeamotherwhogavebirthtoandendowedalltheothersciences.Therefore,oneshouldnotscornherinhernakednessandpoverty,butshouldhope,rather,thatpartofherDonQuixoteidealwill
liveoninherchildrensothattheydonotsinkintophilistinism.
(28September1932),p.106
Whattheseblessedmenhavegiven
IamtheonetowhomyouwroteincareoftheBelgianAcademy...Readnonewspapers,trytofindafewfriendswhothinkasyoudo,readthewonderfulwritersofearliertimes,Kant,Goethe,Lessing,andthe uswemustguardandtrytokeep
classicsofotherlands,andenjoythenaturalbeautiesofMunich'ssurroundings.Makebelieveallthetimethatyouareliving,sotospeak,onMarsamongaliencreaturesandblotoutanydeeperinterestinthe alivewithallourstrengthifhumanity
actionsofthosecreatures.Makefriendswithafewanimals.Thenyouwillbecomeacheerfulmanoncemoreandnothingwillbeabletotroubleyou. isnottoloseitsdignity,thesecurity
Bearinmindthatthosewhoarefinerandnoblerarealwaysaloneandnecessarilysoandthatbecauseofthistheycanenjoythepurityoftheirownatmosphere. ofitsexistence,anditsjoyinliving.
Ishakeyourhandinheartfeltcomradeship,E.
Responsetoaletterfromanunemployedprofessionalmusician(5April1933),p.115
Theeditorsprecedethispassagethus,"Earlyin1933,EinsteinreceivedaletterfromaprofessionalmusicianwhopresumablylivedinMunich.Themusicianwasevidentlytroubledanddespondent,andoutofajob,yetatthesametime,hemusthave
beensomethingofakindredspirit.Hisletterislost,allthatsurvivesbeingEinstein'sreply....Notethecarefulanonymityofthefirstsentencetherecipientwouldbesaferthatway:"AlbertEinstein:TheHumanSideconcludeswiththispassage,
followedbytheoriginalpassagesinGerman.

AlbertEinstein:Aguidefortheperplexed(1979)

KennethBrecher,"AlbertEinstein:14March,187918April,1955Aguidefortheperplexed",Nature278(15March1979),pp.215218,doi:10.1038/278215a0(http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/278215a0).Thearticleisdescribedas"Abriefcollectionofdirectandindirectquotationsbyorabout
AlbertEinstein."

Themostimportanttoolofthetheoreticalphysicistishiswastebasket.
ToldbyP.Morrison

Physicsisessentiallyanintuitiveandconcretescience.Mathematicsisonlyameansforexpressingthelawsthatgovernphenomena.
FromLettreMauriceSolvine,byA.Einstein(GauthierVillars:Paris1956)

Whowouldhavethoughtaround1900thatinfiftyyearstimewewouldknowsomuchmoreandunderstandsomuchless.
FromAlbertEinsteinandtheCosmicWorldOrder,byC.Lanczos(Wiley,NewYork,1956)

EinsteinandthePoet(1983)

WilliamHermanns,EinsteinandthePoet:InSearchoftheCosmicMan(1983).FromaseriesofmeetingsHermannshadwithEinsteinin1930,1943,1948,and1954,duringwhichhetooknotesonwhatEinsteinsaid(thoughit'sunclearifhe
recordedtheexactphrasingorfilledinwordsfrommemory).Anotherpersonpresentatthe1954conversationofferedhisownslightlydifferenttranscriptionofEinstein'scomments,whichwaspublishedinthearticle"DeathofaGenius"
(http://books.google.com/books?id=dlYEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA62#v=onepage&q&f=false)fromthe2May,1955issueofLifeMagazine."EinsteinandthePoet"isviewableonGoogleBookshere
(http://books.google.com/books?id=QXCyjj6T5ZUC).

Firstconversation(1930):

Schoolfailedme,andIfailedtheschool.Itboredme.TheteachersbehavedlikeFeldwebel(sergeants).IwantedtolearnwhatIwantedtoknow,buttheywantedmetolearnfortheexam.WhatIhatedmost
wasthecompetitivesystemthere,andespeciallysports.Becauseofthis,Iwasn'tworthanything,andseveraltimestheysuggestedIleave.ThiswasaCatholicSchoolinMunich.Ifeltthatmythirstforknowledge
wasbeingstrangledbymyteachersgradesweretheironlymeasurement.Howcanateacherunderstandyouthwithsuchasystem?...fromtheageoftwelveIbegantosuspectauthorityanddistrustteachers.I Humanknowledgeandskillsalone
learnedmostlyathome,firstfrommyuncleandthenfromastudentwhocametoeatwithusonceaweek.Hewouldgivemebooksonphysicsandastronomy.ThemoreIread,themorepuzzledIwasbythe cannotleadhumanitytoahappyand
orderoftheuniverseandthedisorderofthehumanmind,bythescientistswhodidn'tagreeonthehow,thewhen,orthewhyofcreation.ThenonedaythisstudentbroughtmeKant'sCritiqueofPureReason. dignifiedlife.Humanityhasevery
ReadingKant,IbegantosuspecteverythingIwastaught.InolongerbelievedintheknownGodoftheBible,butratherinthemysteriousGodexpressedinnature. reasontoplacetheproclaimersof
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 24/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
ReadingKant,IbegantosuspecteverythingIwastaught.InolongerbelievedintheknownGodoftheBible,butratherinthemysteriousGodexpressedinnature. reasontoplacetheproclaimersof
p.8 highmoralstandardsandvalues
abovethediscoverersofobjective
Thebasiclawsoftheuniversearesimple,butbecauseoursensesarelimited,wecan'tgraspthem.Thereisapatternincreation. truth.
p.10

Butwehavehighermathematics,haven'twe?Thisgivesmefreedomfrommysenses.Thelanguageofmathematicsisevenmoreinbornanduniversalthanthelanguageofmusicamathematicalformulaiscrystal
clearandindependentofallsenseorgans.Ithereforebuiltamathematicallaboratory,setmyselfinitasifIweresittinginacar,andmovedalongwithabeamoflight.
p.11

Sinceothershaveexplainedmytheory,Icannolongerunderstanditmyself.
p.13

Scienceisneverfinishedbecausethehumanmindonlyusesasmallportionofitscapacity,andman'sexplorationofhisworldisalsolimited.Ifwelookatthistreeoutsidewhoserootssearchbeneaththepavement
forwater,oraflowerwhichsendsitssweetsmelltothepollinatingbees,orevenourownselvesandtheinnerforcesthatdriveustoact,wecanseethatwealldancetoamysterioustune,andthepiperwhoplays Whentheexpectedcourseof
thismelodyfromaninscrutabledistancewhatevernamewegivehimCreativeForce,orGodescapesallbookknowledge. everydaylifeisinterrupted,weare
p.14 likeshipwreckedpeopleona
miserableplankintheopensea,
Manypeoplethinkthattheprogressofthehumanraceisbasedonexperiencesofanempirical,criticalnature,butIsaythattrueknowledgeistobehadonlythroughaphilosophyofdeduction.Foritisintuition havingforgottenwheretheycame
thatimprovestheworld,notjustfollowingatroddenpathofthought.Intuitionmakesuslookatunrelatedfactsandthenthinkaboutthemuntiltheycanallbebroughtunderonelaw.Tolookforrelatedfactsmeans fromandnotknowingwhitherthey
holdingontowhatonehasinsteadofsearchingfornewfacts.Intuitionisthefatherofnewknowledge,whileempiricismisnothingbutanaccumulationofoldknowledge.Intuition,notintellect,isthe'opensesame' aredrifting...
ofyourself.
p.16

WhatdoyouthinkofSpinoza?Formeheistheidealexampleofthecosmicman.Heworkedasanobscurediamondcutter,disdainingfameandaplaceatthetableofthegreat.Hetellsustheimportanceofunderstandingouremotionsandsuggestswhat
causesthem.Manwillneverbefreeuntilheisabletodirecthisemotionstothinkclearly.Onlythencanhecontrolhisenvironmentandpreservehisenergyforcreativework.
p.26

Whatabetrayalofman'sdignity.Heusesthehighestgift,hismind,onlytenpercent,andhisemotionsandinstinctsninetypercent.
p.31
SpokenonhearingGermanmarcherssingingwarsongs.Onp.474ofAliceCalaprice'sTheUltimateQuotableEinstein,shelists"weonlyuse10percentofourbrain"asaquote"misattributedtoEinstein",perhapsthisisthesourceofthe
misquote?Einsteinseemstobespeakingmetaphoricallyhere,notendorsingthemyth(http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/10percent.asp)thatsciencehasshown90percentoftheneuronsinourbrainliedormant.Andthemythdatesbackto
beforethisinterview,forexamplethebookMindMyths:ExploringPopularAssumptionsAbouttheMindandBrain,editedbySergioDellaSalla,hasachapterbyBarryL.Beyersteintitled"WhenceComeththeMyththatWeOnlyUse10%
ofourBrains?"whichshowsonp.11anadvertisementfromthe1929WorldAlmanaccontainingtheline"ThereisNOLIMITtowhatthehumanbraincanaccomplish.ScientistsandpsychologiststellusweuseonlyaboutTENPERCENTofour
brainpower."

Secondconversation(1943):

Matterisrealtomysenses,buttheyaren'ttrustworthy.IfGalileoorCopernicushadacceptedwhattheysaw,theywouldneverhavediscoveredthemovementoftheearthandplanets.
p.59

Electromagneticfieldsarenotofthemind...Creationmaybespiritualinorigin,butthatdoesn'tmeanthateverythingcreatedisspiritual.HowcanIexplainsuchthingstoyou?Letusaccepttheworldisamystery.Natureisneithersolelymaterial
norentirelyspiritual.Man,too,ismorethanfleshandbloodotherwise,noreligionswouldhavebeenpossible.Behindeachcauseisstillanothercausetheendorthebeginningofallcauseshasyettobefound.Yet,onlyonethingmustbe
remembered:thereisnoeffectwithoutacause,andthereisnolawlessnessincreation".
p.59

IfIhadn'tanabsolutefaithintheharmonyofcreation,Iwouldn'thavetriedforthirtyyearstoexpressitinamathematicalformula.Itisonlyman'sconsciousnessofwhathedoeswithhismindthatelevateshimabovetheanimals,andenableshimtobecome
awareofhimselfandhisrelationshiptotheuniverse.
p.61

IbelievethatIhavecosmicreligiousfeelings.Inevercouldgrasphowonecouldsatisfythesefeelingsbyprayingtolimitedobjects.Thetreeoutsideislife,astatueisdead.Thewholeofnatureislife,andlife,asIobserveit,rejectsaGodresemblingman.I
liketoexperiencetheuniverseasoneharmoniouswhole.Everycellhaslife.Matter,too,haslifeitisenergysolidified.Ourbodiesarelikeprisons,andIlookforwardtobefree,butIdon'tspeculateonwhatwillhappentome.Iliveherenow,andmy
responsibilityisinthisworldnow....Idealwithnaturallaws.Thisismyworkhereonearth.
p.64

Theworldneedsnewmoralimpulseswhich,I'mafraid,won'tcomefromthechurches,heavilycompromisedastheyhavebeenthroughoutthecenturies.PerhapsthoseimpulsesmustcomefromscientistsinthetraditionofGalileo,KeplerandNewton.In
spiteoffailuresandpersecutions,thesemendevotedtheirlivestoprovingthattheuniverseisasingleentity,inwhich,Ibelieve,ahumanizedGodhasnoplace.Thegenuinescientistisnotmovedbypraiseorblame,nordoeshepreach.Heunveilsthe
universeandpeoplecomeeagerly,withoutbeingpushed,tobeholdanewrevelation:theorder,theharmony,themagnificenceofcreation!Andasmanbecomesconsciousofthestupendouslawsthatgoverntheuniverseinperfectharmony,hebeginsto
realizehowsmallheis.Heseesthepettinessofhumanexistence,withitsambitionsandintrigues,its'Iambetterthanthou'creed.Thisisthebeginningofcosmicreligionwithinhimfellowshipandhumanservicebecomehismoralcode.Andwithoutsuch
moralfoundations,wearehopelesslydoomed.
p.66

Thirdconversation(1948):

TheGodSpinozareveredismyGod,too:ImeetHimeverydayintheharmoniouslawswhichgoverntheuniverse.Myreligioniscosmic,andmyGodistoouniversaltoconcernhimselfwiththeintentionsofeveryhumanbeing.Idonotaccept
areligionoffearMyGodwillnotholdmeresponsiblefortheactionsthatnecessityimposes.MyGodspeakstomethroughlaws.
p.89

Ibelieveinonethingthatonlyalifelivedforothersisalifeworthliving.
p.91

Ifwewanttoimprovetheworldwecannotdoitwithscientificknowledgebutwithideals.Confucius,Buddha,JesusandGandhihavedonemoreforhumanitythansciencehasdone.Wemustbeginwiththeheartofmanwithhisconscienceandthe
valuesofconsciencecanonlybemanifestedbyselflessservicetomankind.Inthisrespect,IfeelthattheChurcheshavemuchguilt.Shehasalwaysalliedherselfwiththosewhorule,whohavepoliticalpower,andmoreoftenthannot,attheexpenseof
peaceandhumanityasawhole.
p.92

Religionandsciencegotogether.AsI'vesaidbefore,sciencewithoutreligionislameandreligionwithoutscienceisblind.Theyareinterdependentandhaveacommongoalthesearchfortruth.HenceitisabsurdforreligiontoproscribeGalileoor
Darwinorotherscientists.AnditisequallyabsurdwhenscientistssaythatthereisnoGod.Therealscientisthasfaith,whichdoesnotmeanthathemustsubscribetoacreed.Withoutreligionthereisnocharity.Thesoulgiventoeachofusismovedbythe
samelivingspiritthatmovestheuniverse.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 25/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
samelivingspiritthatmovestheuniverse.
p.94

Ibelievethatwedon'tneedtoworryaboutwhathappensafterthislife,aslongaswedoourdutyheretoloveandtoserve.
p.94

Ihavefaithintheuniverse,foritisrational.Lawunderlieseachhappening.AndIhavefaithinmypurposehereonearth.Ihavefaithinmyintuition,thelanguageofmyconscience,butIhavenofaithinspeculationaboutHeavenandHell.I'mconcerned
withthistimehereandnow.
p.94

Philosophyisemptyifitisn'tbasedonscience.Sciencediscovers,philosophyinterprets.
p.98

Andthetraditionalreligionsworryme.Theirlonghistoryprovesthattheyhavenotunderstoodthemeaningofthecommandment:Thoushaltnotkill.Ifwewanttosavethisworldfromunimaginabledestructionweshouldconcentratenotonthefaraway
God,butontheheartoftheindividual.WelivenowinaninternationalanarchyinwhichaThirdWorldWarwithnuclearweaponsliesbeforeourdoor.Wemustmaketheindividualmanawareofhisconsciencesothatheunderstandswhatitmeansthat
onlyafewwillsurvivethenextwar.
p.98

Ihappenedtohavenothingtodowiththeactualresearchanddevelopmentofthebomb.MylettertoPresidentRooseveltwasnothingbutaletterofintroductionforDr.SzilardwhowantedtocreateadequatecontactbetweenscientistsandWashington
regardingtheManhattanproject.IhadonlyhandledtheproblemofnucleardefensewhenitwasreportedtomethattheGermanswereworkingonsuchanatomicbomband,infact,haduraniumminesinCzechoslovakiaintheircontrol.Ifeltitwas
imperativefortheUnitedStatestoproceedinthedevelopmentofthebomb,beforeHitlerusedittodestroyLondon.IalsofeltthatwehadtoshowGermanythepowerofAmerica,forpoweristheonlylanguagebarbariansunderstand.AndwhenIlater
learnedthatthebombhadbeencreatedandwastobeusedagainstJapan,IdidallinmypowertoavertPresidentTrumanfromthisplan,sincepubliclydroppingitonanemptyislandwouldhavebeensufficienttoconvinceJapanoranynationtosuefor
peace.
p.100

Indeed,itisnotintellect,butintuitionwhichadvanceshumanity.Intuitiontellsmanhispurposeinthislife.
p.103

Idonotneedanypromiseofeternitytobehappy.Myeternityisnow.Ihaveonlyoneinterest:tofulfillmypurposeherewhereIam.Thispurposeisnotgivenmebymyparentsormysurroundings.Itisinducedbysomeunknownfactors.Thesefactors
makemeapartofeternity.
p.103

Icannotconceiveofanythingaftermyphysicaldeathperhapsitwillenditall.TheknowledgethatIamnowonthisearthandamysteriouspartofeternityisenoughforme.Mydeathwillbeaneasyone,too,forsinceearlyyouthIhavealwaysdetached
myselffromfamily,friends,andsurroundings.AndshouldIliveon,Ihavenofearofthenextlife.WhatevergoodIdidhelpedtofreemefrommyself.Whatamiserablecreaturemanwouldbeifheweregoodnotforthesakeofbeinggood,butbecause
religiontoldhimthathewouldgetarewardafterthislife,andthatifheweren'tgoodhe'dbepunished.
p.104

MyGodmaynotbeyourideaofGod,butonethingIknowofmyGodhemakesmeahumanitarian.IamaproudJewbecausewegavetheworldtheBibleandthestoryofJoseph.
p.106

AmericaisademocracyandhasnoHitler,butIamafraidforherfuturetherearehardtimesaheadfortheAmericanpeople,troubleswillbecomingfromwithinandwithout.AmericacannotsmileawaytheirNegroproblemnorHiroshimaandNagasaki.
Therearecosmiclaws.
p.108

[inresponsetoaquestionaboutwhatwasmeantbyhis"cosmicreligion"]ItisnotareligionthatteachesthatmanismadeintheimageofGodthatisanthropomorphic.ManhasinfinitedimensionsandfindsGodinhisconscience.Thisreligionhas
nodogmaotherthanteachingmanthattheuniverseisrationalandthathishighestdestinyistoponderitandcocreatewithitslaws.Thereareonlytwolimitingfactors:first,thatwhatseemsimpenetrabletousisasimportantaswhatiscutanddriedand,
second,thatourfacultiesaredullandcanonlycomprehendwisdomandserenebeautyincrudeforms,buttheheartofmanthroughintuitionleadsustogreaterunderstandingofourselvesandtheuniverse.MyreligionisbasedonMoses:LoveGodand
loveyourneighborasyourself.AndformeGodistheFirstCause.Davidandtheprophetsknewthattherecouldbenolovewithoutjusticeorjusticewithoutlove.Idon'tneedanyotherreligioustrappings.
p.108

Ibelievethemaintaskofthespiritistofreemanfromhisego.
p.109

Butthen,afterall,weareallalike,forweareallderivedfromthemonkey.
p.110

IfIhadforeseenHiroshimaandNagasaki,Iwouldhavetornupmyformulain1905.
p.112

America,however,usesRussianowasapretexttoarmandcreatemoreterriblenuclearbombs.IfIwereyoung,IwouldleavetheUnitedStates.Iwanttolivewherescholarshipisfreeandunattachedtothemilitarymachine.Iwanttolivewherespiritual
valuesarenotsuppressedbytheState.Nothinghasrealvaluewhichisnotdoneoutofloveforone'sfellowman.PoorAmericatheApocalypticrideriscoming.
p.113

Fourthconversation(1954):

Waitaminute!Iamnotamystic.Tryingtofindoutthelawsofnaturehasnothingtodowithmysticism,thoughinthefaceofcreationIfeelveryhumble.Itisasifaspiritismanifestinfinitelysuperiortoman'sspirit.ThroughmypursuitinscienceIhave
knowncosmicreligiousfeelings.ButIdon'tcaretobecalledamystic.
p.117

[askedwhetherhehadcommunistsympathies]Ihaveneveradmiredanysystemthatencouragesaherdnatureinmanbysuppressinghisfreewilltochooseforhimself....IsaidthatMarxsacrificedhimselffortheidealofsocialjustice,butIdidn'tsay
thathistheoriesareright.AsforLenin,Idon'tbelievehelikedme.HowcanIbecalledacommunistwhenIhavefoughtsolongforfreedomofthought,ofexpression,freedomfromthemilitaryboot,andfreedomfromautomation?
p.131

AboutGod,IcannotacceptanyconceptbasedontheauthorityoftheChurch.AslongasIcanremember,Ihaveresentedmassindoctrination.Idonotbelieveinthefearoflife,inthefearofdeath,inblindfaith.Icannotprovetoyouthatthereisno
personalGod,butifIweretospeakofhim,Iwouldbealiar.IdonotbelieveintheGodoftheologywhorewardsgoodandpunishesevil.MyGodcreatedlawsthattakecareofthat.Hisuniverseisnotruledbywishfulthinking,butby
immutablelaws.
p.132
Varianttranscriptionfrom"DeathofaGenius"inLifeMagazine:"IcannotacceptanyconceptofGodbasedonthefearoflifeorthefearofdeath,orblindfaith.IcannotprovetoyouthatthereisnopersonalGod,butifIweretospeakofhimI
wouldbealiar."

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 26/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
YoumustwarnpeoplenottomaketheintellecttheirGod.Theintellectknowsmethodsbutitseldomknowsvalues,andtheycomefromfeeling.Ifonedoesn'tplayapartinthecreativewhole,heisnotworthbeingcalledhuman.Hehasbetrayedhistrue
purpose.
p.135

Certainlytherearethingsworthbelieving.Ibelieveinthebrotherhoodofmanandinpersonaloriginality.ButifyouaskedmetoprovewhatIbelieve,Icouldn't.Youcanspendyourwholelifetryingtoprovewhatyoubelieveyoumayhuntforreasons,but
itwillallbeinvain.Yetourbeliefsarelikeourexistencetheyarefacts.Ifyoudon'tyetknowwhattobelievein,thentrytolearnwhatyoufeelanddesire.
p.136
Varianttranscriptionfrom"DeathofaGenius"inLifeMagazine:"Certainlytherearethingsworthbelieving.Ibelieveinthebrotherhoodofmanandtheuniquenessoftheindividual.ButifyouaskmetoprovewhatIbelieve,Ican't.Youknowthem
tobetruebutyoucouldspendawholelifetimewithoutbeingabletoprovethem.Themindcanproceedonlysofaruponwhatitknowsandcanprove.Therecomesapointwherethemindtakesaleapcallitintuitionorwhatyouwillandcomes
outuponahigherplaneofknowledge,butcanneverprovehowitgotthere.Allgreatdiscoverieshaveinvolvedsuchaleap."
Unsourcedvariant:"Theintellecthaslittletodoontheroadtodiscovery.Therecomesaleapinconsciousness,callitintuitionorwhatyouwill,andthesolutioncomestoyouandyoudonotknowhoworwhy.Allgreatdiscoveriesaremadeinthis
way."TheearliestpublishedversionofthisvariantappearstobeTheHumanSideofScientistsbyRalphEdwardOesper(1975),p.58(http://books.google.com/books?id=
J0cAQAAIAAJ&q=%22solution+comes+to+you+and+you+do+not+know%22&dq=%22solution+comes+to+you+and+you+do+not+know%22&hl=en),butnosourceisprovided,andthesimilaritytothe"LifeMagazine"quoteabovesuggests
it'slikelyamisquote.

It'snotassimpleasthat.Knowledgeisnecessary,too.Anintuitivechildcouldn'taccomplishanythingwithoutsomeknowledge.Therewillcomeapointineveryone'slife,however,whereonlyintuitioncanmaketheleapahead,withouteverknowing
preciselyhow.Onecanneverknowwhy,butonemustacceptintuitionasafact.
p.137
Inresponsetostatement"Youoncetoldmethatprogressismadeonlybyintuition,andnotbytheaccumulationofknowledge."
Varianttranscriptionfrom"DeathofaGenius"inLifeMagazine:"Itisnotquitesosimple.Knowledgeisnecessarytoo.Achildwithgreatintuitioncouldnotgrowuptobecomesomethingworthwhileinlifewithoutsomeknowledge.Howeverthere
comesapointineveryone'slifewhereonlyintuitioncanmaketheleapahead,withoutknowingpreciselyhow.":

Don'tthinkaboutwhyyouquestion,simplydon'tstopquestioning.Don'tworryaboutwhatyoucan'tanswer,anddon'ttrytoexplainwhatyoucan'tknow.Curiosityisitsownreason.Aren'tyouinawewhenyoucontemplatethemysteriesofeternity,of
life,ofthemarvelousstructurebehindreality?Andthisisthemiracleofthehumanmindtouseitsconstructions,concepts,andformulasastoolstoexplainwhatmansees,feelsandtouches.Trytocomprehendalittlemoreeachday.Haveholycuriosity.
p.138
Varianttranscriptionfrom"DeathofaGenius"inLifeMagazine:"Thendonotstoptothinkaboutthereasonsforwhatyouaredoing,aboutwhyyouarequestioning.Theimportantthingisnottostopquestioning.Curiosityhasitsownreasonsfor
existence.Onecannothelpbutbeinawewhenhecontemplatesthemysteriesofeternity,oflife,ofthemarvelousstructureofreality.Itisenoughifonetriesmerelytocomprehendalittleofthismysteryeachday.Neverloseaholycuriosity."

Firstyoumusthavefaithinaneternalworldindependentofyouthenyoumusthavefaithinyourabilitytoperceiveit,andfinallyyoumusttrytoexplainitbymeansofconceptsormathematicalconstructions.Butdon'talwaysaccepttraditionalconcepts
withoutreexaminingthem.Evenoverthrowmyrelativitytheory,ifyoufindabetterone....Youmustbelievethattheworldwascreatedasaunifiedwholewhichiscomprehensibletoman.Ofcourse,it'sgoingtotakeaninfinitelylongtimetoinvestigate
thisunifiedcreation.Buttomethatisthehighestandmostsacreddutyunifyingphysics.Simplicityisthecriterionoftheuniverse.
p.139

Bealoner.Thatgivesyoutimetowonder,tosearchforthetruth.Haveholycuriosity.Makeyourlifeworthliving.
p.142

Trynottobecomeamanofsuccess,butamanofvalue.Lookaroundathowpeoplewanttogetmoreoutoflifethantheyputin.Amanofvaluewillgivemorethanhereceives.Becreative,butmakesurethatwhatyoucreateisnotacurseformankind.
p.143
Varianttranscriptionfrom"DeathofaGenius"inLifeMagazine:"Trynottobecomeamanofsuccessbutrathertrytobecomeamanofvalue.Heisconsideredsuccessfulinourdaywhogetsmoreoutoflifethanheputsin.Butamanofvaluewill
givemorethanhereceives."

Einstein'sGod(1997)

Einstein'sGodAlbertEinstein'sQuestasaScientistandasaJewtoReplaceaForsakenGod(1997)byRobertN.GoldmanISBN1568219830

Thebigotryofthenonbelieverisformenearlyasfunnyasthebigotryofthebeliever.

Amanwhoisconvincedofthetruthofhisreligionisindeednevertolerant.Attheleast,heistofeelpityfortheadherentofanotherreligionbutusuallyitdoesnotstopthere.Thefaithfuladherentofareligionwill
tryfirstofalltoconvincethosethatbelieveinanotherreligionandusuallyhegoesontohatredifheisnotsuccessful.However,hatredthenleadstopersecutionwhenthemightofthemajorityisbehindit.
InthecaseofaChristianclergyman,thetragiccomicalisfoundinthis:thattheChristianreligiondemandslovefromthefaithful,evenlovefortheenemy.Thisdemand,becauseitisindeedsuperhuman,heisunable
tofulfill.Thusintoleranceandhatredringthroughtheoilywordsoftheclergyman.Thelove,whichontheChristiansideisthebasisfortheconciliatoryattempttowardsJudaismisthesameastheloveofachildfor
acake.Thatmeansthatitcontainsthehopethattheobjectofthelovewillbeeatenup...
LettertoRabbiSolomonGoldmanofChicago'sAnsheEmetCongregation,p.51

IfIwouldfollowyouradviceandJesuscouldperceiveit,he,asaJewishteacher,surelywouldnotapproveofsuchbehavior.
ReplytoaRomanCatholicstudenturginghimtopraytoJesusChrist,theVirginMary,andconverttoChristianity.
p.88

Thefactthatmanproducesaconcept"I"besidesthetotalityofhismentalandemotionalexperiencesorperceptionsdoesnotprovethattheremustbeanyspecificexistencebehindsucha
concept.Wearesuccumbingtoillusionsproducedbyourselfcreatedlanguage,withoutreachingabetterunderstandingofanything.Mostofsocalledphilosophyisduetothiskindoffallacy.
p.89 IhavealwaysbelievedthatJesus
meantbytheKingdomofGodthe
Onehasafeelingthatonehasakindofhomeinthistimelesscommunityofhumanbeingsthatstrivefortruth.IhavealwaysbelievedthatJesusmeantbytheKingdomofGodthesmall smallgroupscatteredallthroughtime
groupscatteredallthroughtimeofintellectuallyandethicallyvaluablepeople. ofintellectuallyandethicallyvaluable
p.98 people.

Totakethosefoolsinclericalgarbseriouslyistoshowthemtoomuchhonor.
CommentontheUnionofOrthodoxRabbisafterexpellingarabbibecauseofhisdisbeliefinGodasapersonalentity.

EinsteinandReligion(1999)

EinsteinandReligion:PhysicsandTheology(1999)byMaxJammerISBN069110297X

ProfessorSmithhaskindlysubmittedhisbooktomebeforepublication.AfterreadingitthoroughlyandwithintenseinterestIamgladtocomplywithhisrequesttogivehimmyimpression.
Theworkisabroadlyconceivedattempttoportrayman'sfearinducedanimisticandmythicideaswithalltheirfarflungtransformationsandinterrelations.Itrelatestheimpactofthesephantasmagoriasonhumandestinyandthecausalrelationshipsby
whichtheyhavebecomecrystallizedintoorganizedreligion.
Thisisabiologistspeaking,whosescientifictraininghasdisciplinedhiminagrimobjectivityrarelyfoundinthepurehistorian.Thisobjectivityhasnot,however,hinderedhimfromemphasizingtheboundlesssufferingwhich,initsendresults,thismythic
thoughthasbroughtuponman.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 27/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
thoughthasbroughtuponman.
ProfessorSmithenvisagesasaredeemingforce,traininginobjectiveobservationofallthatisavailableforimmediateperceptionandintheinterpretationoffactswithoutpreconceivedideas.Inhisview,onlyifeveryindividualstrivesfortruthcanhumanity
attainahappierfuturetheatavismsineachofusthatstandinthewayofafriendlierdestinycanonlythusberenderedineffective.
Hishistoricalpicturecloseswiththeendofthenineteenthcentury,andwithgoodreason.Bythattimeitseemedthattheinfluenceofthesemythic,authoritativelyanchoredforceswhichcanbedenotedasreligious,hadbeenreducedtoatolerablelevelin
spiteofallthepersistinginertiaandhypocrisy.
Eventhen,anewbranchofmythicthoughthadalreadygrownstrong,onenotreligiousinnaturebutnolessperiloustomankindexaggeratednationalism.Halfacenturyhasshownthatthisnewadversaryissostrongthatitplacesinquestionman'svery
survival.Itistooearlyforthepresentdayhistoriantowriteaboutthisproblem,butitistobehopedthatonewillsurvivewhocanundertakethetaskatalaterdate.
Forewordof"ManandhisGods"byHomerW.Smith

WefollowersofSpinozaseeourGodinthewonderfulorderandlawfulnessofallthatexistsandinitssoul("Beseeltheit")asitrevealsitselfinmanandanimal.ItisadifferentquestionwhetherbeliefinapersonalGodshouldbecontested.
Freudendorsedthisviewinhislatestpublication.Imyselfwouldneverengageinsuchatask.Forsuchabeliefseemstomepreferabletothelackofanytranscendentaloutlookoflife,andIwonderwhetheronecaneversuccessfullyrendertothemajority
ofmankindamoresublimemeansinordertosatisfyitsmetaphysicalneeds.
FromalettertoEduardBsching(25October1929)afterBschingsentEinsteinacopyofhisbookEsgibtkeinenGott[ThereIsnoGod].EinsteinrespondedthatthebookonlydealtwiththeconceptofapersonalGod,p.51

Speakingofthespiritthatinformsmodernscientificinvestigations,Iamoftheopinionthatallthefinerspeculationsintherealmofsciencespringfromadeepreligiousfeeling,andthatwithoutsuchafeelingtheywouldnotbefruitful.Ialsobelievethat,
thiskindofreligiousness,whichmakesitselffelttodayinscientificinvestigations,istheonlycreativereligiousactivityofourtime.Theartoftodaycanhardlybelookeduponatallasexpressiveofourreligiousinstincts.
InterviewwithJ.MurphyandJ.W.N.Sullivan(1930),p.68

Scientificresearchisbasedontheassumptionthatallevents,includingtheactionsofmankind,aredeterminedbythelawsofnature.Therefore,aresearchscientistwillhardlybeinclinedtobelievethateventscouldbeinfluencedbyaprayer,thatis,bya

wishaddressedtoasupernaturalBeing.However,wehavetoadmitthatouractualknowledgeoftheselawsisonlyanincompletepieceofwork(unvollkommenesStckwerk),sothatultimatelythebeliefintheexistenceoffundamentalallembracinglaws
alsorestsonasortoffaith.Allthesame,thisfaithhasbeenlargelyjustifiedbythesuccessofscience.Ontheotherhand,however,everyonewhoisseriouslyengagedinthepursuitofsciencebecomesconvincedthatthelawsofnaturemanifest
theexistenceofaspiritvastlysuperiortothatofmen,andoneinthefaceofwhichwewithourmodestpowersmustfeelhumble.Thepursuitofscienceleadsthereforetoareligiousfeelingofaspecialkind,whichdiffersessentiallyfromthe
religiosityofmorenaivepeople.
LetterinresponsetosixthgraderPhyllisWright,askingwhetherscientistspray,andifso,whattheyprayfor(24January1936)p.9293

Iwasbarkedatbynumerousdogswhoareearningtheirfoodguardingignoranceandsuperstitionforthebenefitofthosewhoprofitfromit.Thentherearethefanaticalatheistswhoseintoleranceisofthesamekindastheintoleranceofthereligiousfanatics
andcomesfromthesamesource.Theyarelikeslaveswhoarestillfeelingtheweightoftheirchainswhichtheyhavethrownoffafterhardstruggle.Theyarecreatureswhointheirgrudgeagainstthetraditional"opiumforthepeople"cannotbearthe
musicofthespheres.TheWonderofnaturedoesnotbecomesmallerbecauseonecannotmeasureitbythestandardsofhumanmoralandhumanaims.
Letter(7August1941)discussingresponsestohisessay"ScienceandReligion"(1941),p.97

Ihavefoundnobetterexpressionthan"religious"forconfidenceintherationalnatureofrealityasitisaccessibletohumanreason.Whereverthisfeelingisabsent,sciencedegeneratesintouninspiredempiricism.Icannotacceptyouropinionconcerning
scienceandethicsorthedeterminationofaims.Whatwecallsciencehasthesolepurposeofdeterminingwhatis.Thedeterminingofwhatoughttobeisunrelatedtoitandcannotbeaccomplishedmethodically.Sciencecanonlyarrangeethical
propositionslogicallyandfurnishthemeansfortherealizationofethicalaims,butthedeterminationofaimsisbeyonditsscope.AtleastthatisthewayIseeit.
LettertohisfriendMauriceSolovine(1January1951)p.120

TheideaofapersonalGodisquitealientomeandseemsevennaive.However,Iamalsonota"Freethinker"intheusualsenseofthewordbecauseIfindthatthisisinthemainanattitudenourishedexclusivelybyanoppositionagainstnaivesuperstition.
MyfeelingisinsofarreligiousasIamimbuedwiththeconsciousnessoftheinsufficiencyofthehumanmindtounderstanddeeplytheharmonyoftheUniversewhichwetrytoformulateas"lawsofnature."ItisthisconsciousnessandhumilityImissinthe
Freethinkermentality.
LettertoBeatriceF.inresponsetoaquestionaboutwhetherhewasa"freethinker"(17December1952),p.121

IwanttoknowhowGodcreatedthisworld.I'mnotinterestedinthisorthatphenomenon,inthespectrumofthisorthatelement.IwanttoknowHisthoughts,therestaredetails.
Asquotedin"ATalkwithEinstein"inTheListener54(1955)p.123

ItseemstomethattheideaofapersonalGodisananthropomorphicconceptwhichIcannottakeseriously.Ifeelalsonotabletoimaginesomewillorgoaloutsidethehumansphere.MyviewsareneartothoseofSpinoza:admirationforthebeautyof
andbeliefinthelogicalsimplicityoftheorderandharmonywhichwecangrasphumblyandonlyimperfectly.Ibelievethatwehavetocontentourselveswithourimperfectknowledgeandunderstandingandtreatvaluesandmoralobligations
asapurelyhumanproblemthemostimportantofallhumanproblems.
FromalettertoMurrayW.Gross(26April1947),p.138

Disputed
Thereareonlytwowaystoliveyourlife.Oneisasthoughnothingisamiracle.Theotherisasthougheverythingis.
AsquotedinJournalofFranceandGermany(19421944)byGilbertFowlerWhite,inexcerptpublishedinLivingwithNature'sExtremes:TheLifeofGilbertFowlerWhite(2006)byRobertE.Hinshaw,p.62.Fromthecontext
(http://books.google.com/books?id=_2qfZRp9SeEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA62#v=onepage&q&f=false)itseemsthatWhitedidnotspecifywhetherhehadheardEinsteinhimselfsaythisorwhetherhewasrepeatingaquotethathadbeenpassed
alongbysomeoneelse,sowithoutaprimarysourcethevalidityofthisquoteshouldbeconsideredquestionable,especiallygiventhatelsewhereEinsteindefineda"miracle"asatypeofeventhedidnotbelievewaspossibleEinsteinonReligion
byMaxJammer(1999)quotesonp.89froma1931conversationEinsteinhadwithDavidReichinstein,whereReichinsteinbroughtupphilosopherArthurLiebert'sargumentthattheindeterminismofquantummechanicsmightallowforthe
possibilityofmiracles,andEinsteinrepliedthatLiebert'sargumentdealt"withadomaininwhichlawfulrationality[determinism]doesnotexist.A'miracle,'however,isanexceptionfromlawfulnesshence,therewherelawfulnessdoesnotexist,
alsoitsexception,i.e.,amiracle,cannotexist."("Dort,woeineGesetzmssigkeitnichtvorhandenist,kannauchihreAusnahme,d.h.einWunder,nichtexistieren."D.Reichenstein,DieReligionderGebildeten(1941),p.21)
Variant:Thereareonlytwowaystoliveyourlife.Oneisasthoughnothingisamiracle.Theotherisasthougheverythingisamiracle.
AsquotedinFromYaletoJail:TheLifeStoryofaMoralDissenter(1993)byDavidT.Dellinger,p.418

Itishightimetheidealofsuccessshouldbereplacedwiththeidealofservice.
NoknownsourceitappearstobeaparaphraseofthelastsentenceofEinstein's"AnIdealofServicetoOurFellowMan".EarliestknownattributionisintheWashingonAfroAmerican,AFROMagazineSection,Sept21,1954,p.2
(http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I8slAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6_QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4494,1273325)

ThehumanmindisnotcapableofgraspingtheUniverse.Wearelikealittlechildenteringahugelibrary.Thewallsarecoveredtotheceilingswithbooksinmanydifferenttongues.Thechildknowsthatsomeonemusthavewrittenthesebooks.Itdoes
notknowwhoorhow.Itdoesnotunderstandthelanguagesinwhichtheyarewritten.Butthechildnotesadefiniteplaninthearrangementofthebooksamysteriousorderwhichitdoesnotcomprehend,butonlydimlysuspects.
AttributedwithoutsourcetoEinsteininMieczyslawTaube,EvolutionofMatterandEnergyonaCosmicandPlanetaryScale(1985),page1

InDecember,1947,hemadethefollowingstatement:"IcametoAmericabecauseofthegreat,greatfreedomwhichIheardexistedinthiscountry.ImadeamistakeinselectingAmericaasalandoffreedom,amistakeIcannotrepairinthebalanceof
mylife."
AttributedinFBIMemo,February13,1950(item61409925inEinstein'sFBIfileviewableonlineasp.72of"AlbertEinsteinPart1of14"here(http://vault.fbi.gov/Albert%20Einstein),aswellasp.72ofthepdffilewhichcanbe
downloadedhere(http://vault.fbi.gov/Albert%20Einstein/Albert%20Einstein%20Part%201%20of%2014/at_download/file)).ThereisnootherinformationintheFBI'sreleasedfilesastowhatsourceattributedthisstatementtoEinstein,andthe
filesarefulloffalsehoods,includingtheaccusationthatEinsteinwassecretlyprocommunist.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 28/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Commonsenseisactuallynothingmorethanadepositofprejudiceslaiddowninthemindpriortotheageofeighteen.
TheUltimateQuotableEinsteinbyAliceCalapriceliststhisas"probablynotbyEinstein".However,thispostfromquoteinvestigator.com(http://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/04/29/commonsense/)tracesittoareasonablyplausiblesource:the
secondpartofathreepartseriesbyLincolnBarrett(formereditorof'Life'magazine)titled"TheUniverseandDr.Einstein"inHarper'sMagazine,fromMay1948,inwhichBarrettwrote"ButasEinsteinhaspointedout,commonsenseisactually
nothingmorethanadepositofprejudiceslaiddowninthemindpriortotheageofeighteen."Sincehedidn'tputthestatementinquotesitcouldbeaparaphrase,and"asEinsteinhaspointedout"makesitunclearwhetherEinsteinsaidthis
personallytoBarrettorBarrettwasrecallingaquoteofEinstein'she'dseenelsewhere.Inanycase,theinterviewwasrepublishedinabookofthesametitle,andEinsteinwroteaforewordwhichpraisedBarrett'sworkonthebook,soit'slikely
hereadthequoteaboutcommonsenseandatleasthadnoobjectiontoit,whetherornotherecalledmakingthespecificcomment.
Unsourcedvariant:Commonsenseisthecollectionofprejudicesacquiredbyageeighteen.

Compoundinterestisthemostpowerfulforceintheuniverse.
Variant:"Compoundinterestismansgreatestinvention."
ThisSnopesarticle(http://www.snopes.com/quotes/einstein/interest.asp)concludedthatitsstatuswasuncertain,whilethispostfromTheQuoteInvestigator(http://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/10/31/compoundinterest/)concludesitismostlikely
afalseattribution,sincevariantsofthequotedatebacktoatleast1916,withtheearlyvariantsnotbeingattributedtoEinstein.

Fairytalesandmorefairytales.[inresponsetoamotherwhowantedhersontobecomeascientistandaskedEinsteinwhatreadingmaterialtogivehim]
FoundinMontanaLibraries:Volumes814(1954),p.cxxx(http://books.google.com/books?id=PpwaAAAAMAAJ&q=%22more+fairy+tales%22#search_anchor).Thestoryisgivenasfollows:"InthecurrentNewMexicoLibraryBulletin,
ElizabethMargulistellsastoryofawomanwhowasapersonalfriendofthelatedeanofscientists,Dr.AlbertEinstein.Motivatedpartlybyheradmirationforhim,sheheldhopesthathersonmightbecomeascientist.OnedaysheaskedDr.
Einstein'sadviceaboutthekindofreadingthatwouldbestpreparethechildforthiscareer.Tohersurprise,thescientistrecommended'Fairytalesandmorefairytales.'Themotherprotestedthatshewasreallyseriousaboutthisandshewanteda
seriousanswerbutDr.Einsteinpersisted,addingthatcreativeimaginationistheessentialelementintheintellectualequipmentofthetruescientist,andthatfairytalesarethechildhoodstimulustothisquality."However,itisunclearfromthis
descriptionwhetherMargulisheardthisstorypersonallyfromthewomanwhohadsupposedlyhadthisdiscussionwithEinstein,andtherelevantissueoftheNewMexicoLibraryBulletindoesnotappeartobeonline.
Variant:"First,givehimfairytalessecond,givehimfairytales,andthird,givehimfairytales!"FoundinTheWilsonLibraryBulletin,Vol37from1962,whichsaysonp.678(http://books.google.com/books?
id=KfQOAQAAMAAJ&q=einstein#search_anchor)thatthisquotewasreportedby"DorisGates,writerandchildren'slibrarian".
Variant:"FairytalesMorefairytalesEvenmorefairytales".FoundinBreakingtheMagicSpell:RadicalTheoriesofFolkandFairyTalesbyJackZipes(1979),p.1(http://books.google.com/books?
id=MxZFuahqzsMC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Variant:"Ifyouwantyourchildrentobebrilliant,tellthemfairytales.Ifyouwantthemtobeverybrilliant,tellthemevenmorefairytales."FoundinChocolateforaWoman'sHeart&SoulbyKayAllenbaugh(1998),p.57
(http://books.google.com/books?id=grrpJh7CfcC&q=brilliant#search_anchor).ThisversioncanbefoundinUsenetpostsfrombefore1998,likethisonefrom1995(http://groups.google.com/group/rec.music.beatles/msg/cec9a9fdf803b72b?
hl=en).
Variant:"Ifyouwantyourchildrentobeintelligent,readthemfairytales.Ifyouwantthemtobeveryintelligent,readthemmorefairytales."FoundinMad,BadandDangerous?:TheScientistandtheCinemabyChristopherFrayling(2005),
p.6(http://books.google.com/books?
id=HjRYA3ELdG0C&lpg=PA6&dq=einstein%20%22want%20your%20children%20to%20be%20intelligent%22&pg=PA6#v=onepage&q=einstein%20%22want%20your%20children%20to%20be%20intelligent%22&f=false).
Variant:"Ifyouwantyourchildrentobeintelligent,readthemfairytales.Ifyouwantthemtobemoreintelligent,readthemmorefairytales."FoundinSuperjoyEnglish,Volume8by(2006),p.87
(http://books.google.com/books?id=HUBKzP8zsUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA87#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Thereallyvaluablethingisintuition.
AlthoughsimilartomanyofEinstein'scommentsabouttheimportanceofintuitionandimagination,nosourcesforthiscanbefoundpriortoThePsychologyofConsciousnessbyRobertEvanOrnstein(1973),p.68
(http://books.google.com/books?id=0Yh9AAAAMAAJ&q=%22really+valuable+thing+is+intuition%22#search_anchor),wherethereisnomentionofwherethequotewasoriginallymade.Anumberofearlysourcesfromthe1980sand1990s
attributeittoTheIntuitiveEdgebyPhilipGoldberg(1983),whichalsoprovidesnooriginalsource.

Twothingsareinfinite:theuniverseandthehumanstupidity.
AsdiscussedinthisentryfromTheQuoteInvestigator(http://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/04/universeeinstein/#more173),theearliestpublishedattributionofasimilarquotetoEinsteinseemstohavebeeninGestalttherapistFrederickS.
Perls'1969bookGestaltTheoryVerbatim,wherehewroteonp.33:"AsAlbertEinsteinoncesaidtome:'Twothingsareinfinite:theuniverseandhumanstupidity.'Butwhatismuchmorewidespreadthantheactualstupidityistheplaying
stupid,turningoffyourear,notlistening,notseeing."Perlsalsoofferedanothervariantinhis1972bookInandOuttheGarbagePail,wherehementionedameetingwithEinsteinandonp.52(http://books.google.com/books?
id=HuxFAAAAYAAJ&q=human+stupidity#search_anchor)quotedhimsaying:"Twothingsareinfinite,theuniverseandhumanstupidity,andIamnotyetcompletelysureabouttheuniverse."However,Perlshadgivenyetanothervariantofthis
quoteinanearlierbook,Ego,Hunger,andAggression:aRevisionofFreudsTheoryandMethod(originallypublished1942,althoughtheQuoteInvestigatoronlycheckedthatthequoteappearedinthe1947edition),whereheattributedit
nottoEinsteinbuttoa"greatastronomer",writing:"Asmoderntimespromotehastyeatingtoalargeextent,itisnotsurprisingtolearnthatagreatastronomersaid:'Twothingsareinfinite,asfarasweknowtheuniverseandhumanstupidity.'
Todayweknowthatthisstatementisnotquitecorrect.Einsteinhasprovedthattheuniverseislimited."So,thelaterattributionsin1969and1972mayhavebeenacaseoffaultymemory,orofintentionallytryingtoincreasetheauthorityofthe
quotebyattributingittoEinstein.ThequoteitselfmaybeavariantofasimilarquoteattributedevenearliertothephilosopherErnestRenan,foundforexampleinThePublic:Volume18from1915,whichsaysonp.1126
(http://books.google.com/books?id=cTPmAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1126#v=onepage&q&f=false):"HequotesthesayingofRenan:itisn'tthestarsthatgivehimanideaofinfinityitisman'sstupidity."(Otherexamplesofsimilarattributionsto
RenancanbefoundonthisGoogleBookssearch(http://www.google.com/search?q=renan+infinity+stupidity&btnG=Search+Books&tbm=bks&tbo=1).)RenanwasFrenchsothisispresumablyintendedasatranslation,butdifferentsources
givedifferentversionsofthesupposedoriginalFrenchquote,suchas"Labtisehumaineestlaseulechosequidonneuneidedel'infini"(foundforexampleinRflexionssurlavie,18951898byRemydeGourmontfrom1903,p.103
(http://books.google.com/books?id=RtrtAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA103#v=onepage&q&f=false),alongwithseveralotherearlysourcesasseeninthissearch(http://www.google.com/search?
q=%22humaine+est+la+seule+chose+qui%22+renan&btnG=Search+Books&tbm=bks&tbo=1))and"Cen'estpasl'immensitdelavotetoilequipeutdonnerlepluscompltementl'idedel'infini,maisbienlabtisehumaine!"

(foundinBroadviews,Volume2from1904,p.465(http://books.google.com/books?id=9NEaAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA465#v=onepage&q&f=false)).SincethesevariantshavenotbeenfoundinRenan'sownwritings,theymayrepresentfalse
attributionsaswell.Theymayalsobevariantsofanevenoldersayingforexample,the1880bookDesversbyGuydeMaupassantincludesonp.9(http://books.google.com/books?id=cQUvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PP21#v=onepage&q&f=false)
aquotefromaletter(datedFebruary19,1880)byGustaveFlaubertwhereFlaubertwrites"Cependant,quisait?Laterreadeslimites,maislabtisehumaineestinfinie!"whichtranslatesto"Butwhoknows?Theearthhasitsboundaries,
buthumanstupidityisinfinite!"Similarlythe1887bookMelangesbyJulesPaulTardivelincludesonp.273(http://books.google.com/books?id=n9cOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA273#v=onepage&q&f=false)apiecesaidtohavebeenwrittenin1880
inwhichhewrites"Aujourd'huijesaisqu'iln'yapasdelimiteslabtisehumaine,qu'elleestinfinie"whichtranslatesto"todayIknowthatthereisnolimittohumanstupidity,itisinfinite."
Variant:"Onlytwothingsareinfinite,theuniverseandhumanstupidity,andI'mnotsureabouttheformer."EarliestversionlocatedisinTechnocracydigest:Issues287314from1988,p.76(http://books.google.com/books?
id=L7LnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22sure+about+the+former%22#search_anchor).TranslatedtoGermanas:"ZweiDingesindunendlich:dasUniversumunddiemenschlicheDummheit.AberbeimUniversumbinichmirnichtganzsicher."
(EarliestversionlocatedisArndtMichaelMeyer,DieMachtderKrze,BooksonDemandGmbH,2004,p.14(http://books.google.gr/books?id=12DW
RBKTW8C&pg=PA14&dq=%22Zwei+Dinge+sind+unendlich:+das+Universum+und+die+menschliche+%22+arnd&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gquJUsrYBomM7AapmYGgCQ&ved=0CC8Q6wEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Zwei%20Dinge%20sind%20unendlich%3A%20das%20Universum%20und%20die%20menschliche%20%22%20arnd&f=false).)

CoincidenceisGod'swayofremaininganonymous.
Thesourcegenerally(butfalsely)citedisEinstein'sTheWorldAsISeeIt(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_as_I_See_It_(book))(1949).Thequotationisprobablyatranslationof"DerZufallistdasPseudonym,dasderliebeGott
whlt,wennerinkognitobleibenwill"(attributedtoAlbertSchweitzer).

Misattributed
ContemptpriortoinvestigationiswhatenslavesamindtoIgnorance.
ThisorsimiliarstatementsaremoreoftenmisattributedtoHerbertSpencer,butthesourceofthephrase"contemptpriortoinvestigation"seemstohavebeenWilliamPaley,AViewoftheEvidencesofChristianity(1794):"Theinfidelityofthe
Gentileworld,andthatmoreespeciallyofmenofrankandlearninginit,isresolvedintoaprinciplewhich,inmyjudgment,willaccountfortheinefficacyofanyargument,oranyevidencewhatever,viz.contemptpriortoexamination."

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 29/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Beingaloveroffreedom,whentherevolutioncameinGermany,Ilookedtotheuniversitiestodefendit,knowingthattheyhadalwaysboastedoftheirdevotiontothecauseoftruthbut,no,theuniversitiesimmediatelyweresilenced.ThenIlookedto
thegreateditorsofthenewspaperswhoseflamingeditorialsindaysgonebyhadproclaimedtheirloveoffreedombutthey,liketheuniversities,weresilencedinafewshortweeks.ThenIlookedtoindividualwriterswho,asliteraryguidesofGermany,
hadwrittenmuchandoftenconcerningtheplaceoffreedominmodernlifebutthey,too,weremute.

OnlythechurchstoodsquarelyacrossthepathofHitler'scampaignforsuppressingtruth.Ineverhadanyspecialinterestinthechurchbefore,butnowIfeelagreataffectionandadmirationbecausethechurchalonehashadthecourageandpersistence
tostandforintellectualtruthandmoralfreedom.IamforcedthustoconfessthatwhatIoncedespisedInowpraiseunreservedly.

AttributedinTheConflictBetweenChurchAndStateInTheThirdReich,byS.ParkesCadman,LaCrosseTribuneandLeaderPress(28October1934),viewableonlineonp.9oftheissuehere
(http://newspaperarchive.com/us/wisconsin/lacrosse/lacrossetribuneandleaderpress/1934/1028/)(doubleclickthepagetozoom).ThequoteisprecededbyInthisconnectionitisworthquotinginfreetranslationastatementmadeby
ProfessorEinsteinlastyeartooneofmycolleagueswhohasbeenprominentlyidentifiedwiththeProtestantchurchinitscontactswithGermany.[Emphasisadded.]WhilebasedonsomethingthatEinsteinsaid,Einsteinhimselfstated
thatthequotewasnotanaccuraterecordofhiswordsoropinion.AfterthequoteappearedinTimemagazine(23December1940),p.38(http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,765103,00.html),aministerinHarborSprings,
MichiganwrotetoEinsteintocheckifthequotewasreal.EinsteinwrotebackItistruethatImadeastatementwhichcorrespondsapproximatelywiththetextyouquoted.ImadethisstatementduringthefirstyearsoftheNazi
Regimemuchearlierthan1940andmyexpressionswerealittlemoremoderate.(March1943)[6](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/200706A19.html)
InalaterlettertoRev.CorneliusGreenwayofBrooklyn,whoaskedifEinsteinwouldwriteoutthestatementinhisownhand,Einsteinwasmorevehementinhisrepudiationofthestatement(14November1950)[7]
(http://books.google.com/books?id=T5R7JsRRtoIC&pg=PA94):

Thewordingofthestatementyouhavequotedisnotmyown.ShortlyafterHitlercametopowerinGermanyIhadanoralconversationwithanewspapermanaboutthesematters.Sincethenmyremarkshavebeen
elaboratedandexaggeratednearlybeyondrecognition.Icannotingoodconsciencewritedownthestatementyousentmeasmyown.

ThematterisallthemoreembarrassingtomebecauseI,likeyourself,Iampredominantlycriticalconcerningtheactivities,andespeciallythepoliticalactivities,throughhistoryoftheofficialclergy.Thus,myformerstatement,
evenifreducedtomyactualwords(whichIdonotrememberindetail)givesawrongimpressionofmygeneralattitude.

InhisoriginalstatementEinsteinwasprobablyreferringtotheactionsoftheEmergencyCovenantofPastorsorganizedbyMartinNiemller,andtheConfessingChurchwhichheandotherprominentchurchmensuchasKarlBarthandDietrich
BonhoefferestablishedinoppositiontoNazipolicies.
EinsteinalsomadesomescathinglynegativecommentsaboutthebehavioroftheChurchundertheNaziregime(anditsbehaviortowardsJewsthroughouthistory)ina1943conversationwithWilliamHermannsrecordedinHermanns'book
EinsteinandthePoet(1983).Onp.63(http://books.google.com/books?id=QXCyjj6T5ZUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA63#v=onepage&q&f=false)Hermannsrecordshimsaying"NeverinhistoryhasviolencebeensowidespreadasinNazi
Germany.TheconcentrationcampsmaketheactionsofGhengisKhanlooklikechild'splay.ButwhatmakesmeshudderisthattheChurchissilent.Onedoesn'tneedtobeaprophettosay,'TheCatholicChurchwillpayforthissilence.'Dr.
Hermanns,youwilllivetoseethatthereismorallawintheuniverse....Therearecosmiclaws,Dr.Hermanns.Theycannotbebribedbyprayersorincense.Whataninsulttotheprinciplesofcreation.Butremember,thatforGodathousand
yearsisaday.ThispowermaneuveroftheChurch,theseConcordatsthroughthecenturieswithworldlypowers...theChurchhastopayforit.Welivenowinascientificageandinapsychologicalage.Youareasociologist,aren'tyou?You
knowwhattheHerdenmenschen(menofherdmentality)candowhentheyareorganizedandhavealeader,especiallyifheisaspokesmenfortheChurch.IdonotsaythattheunspeakablecrimesoftheChurchfor2000yearshadalwaysthe

blessingsoftheVatican,butitvaccinateditsbelieverswiththeidea:WehavethetrueGod,andtheJewshavecrucifiedHim.TheChurchsowedhateinsteadoflove,thoughtheTenCommandmentsstate:Thoushaltnotkill."Andthenonp.64
(http://books.google.com/books?id=QXCyjj6T5ZUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA64#v=onepage&q&f=false):"I'mnotaCommunistbutIcanwellunderstandwhytheydestroyedtheChurchinRussia.Allthewrongscomehome,astheproverbsays.
TheChurchwillpayforitsdealingswithHitler,andGermany,too."Andonp.65(http://books.google.com/books?id=QXCyjj6T5ZUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA65#v=onepage&q&f=false):"Idon'tliketoimplantinyouththeChurch'sdoctrineofa
personalGod,becausethatChurchhasbehavedsoinhumanelyinthepast2000years.Thefearofpunishmentmakesthepeoplemarch.ConsiderthehatetheChurchmanifestedagainsttheJewsandthenagainsttheMuslims,theCrusadeswith
theircrimes,theburningstakesoftheInquisition,thetacitconsentofHitler'sactionswhiletheJewsandthePolesdugtheirowngravesandwereslaughtered.AndHitlerissaidtohavebeenanalterboy!Thetrulyreligiousmanhasnofearoflife
andnofearofdeathandcertainlynoblindfaithhisfaithmustbeinhisconscience....Iamthereforeagainstallorganizedreligion.Tooofteninhistory,menhavefollowedthecryofbattleratherthanthecryoftruth."WhenHermannsasked
him"Isn'titonlyhumantomovealongthelineofleastresistance?",Einsteinresponded"Yes.Itisindeedhuman,asprovedbyCardinalPacelli,whowasbehindtheConcordatwithHitler.SincewhencanonemakeapactwithChristandSatanat
thesametime?AndheisnowthePope!ThemomentIheartheword'religion',myhairstandsonend.TheChurchhasalwayssolditselftothoseinpower,andagreedtoanybargaininreturnforimmunity.Itwouldhavebeenfineifthespiritof
religionhadguidedtheChurchinstead,theChurchdeterminedthespiritofreligion.Churchmenthroughtheageshavefoughtpoliticalandinstitutionalcorruptionverylittle,solongastheirownsanctityandchurchpropertywerepreserved."

Buddhismhasthecharacteristicsofwhatwouldbeexpectedinacosmicreligionforthefuture:IttranscendsapersonalGod,avoidsdogmasandtheologyitcoversboththenaturalandthespiritual,anditisbasedonareligioussenseaspiringfromthe
experienceofallthings,naturalandspiritual,asameaningfulunity.
Variant:Thereligionofthefuturewillbeacosmicreligion.ItshouldtranscendapersonalGodandavoiddogmasandtheology.Coveringboththenaturalandthespiritual,itshouldbebasedonareligioussensearisingfromtheexperienceofall
things,naturalandspiritualasameaningfulunity.Ifthereisanyreligionthatwouldcopewithmodernscientificneeds,itwouldbeBuddhism.
Thesetwostatementsareverysimilar,widelyquoted,andseemtoparaphrasesomeideasintheessay"ReligionandScience"(seebelow),butneitherofthetwospecificquotesabovebeenproperlysourced.NotableEinsteinscholarssuchas
JohnStachelandThomasJ.McFarlane(authorofBuddhaandEinstein:TheParallelSayings)knowofthisstatementbuthavenotfoundanysourceforit.Anyinformationonanydefiniteoriginalsourcesfortheseiswelcome.
ThisquotedoesnotactuallyappearinAlbertEinstein:TheHumanSideasissometimesclaimed.
Onlytwosourcesfrombefore1970canbefoundonGoogleBooks.ThefirstisTheTheosophist:Volume86whichseemstocovertheyears1964(http://books.google.com/books?id=7pLjAAAAMAAJ&q=1964#search_anchor)and1965
(http://books.google.com/books?id=7pLjAAAAMAAJ&q=1965#search_anchor).ThequoteappearsattributedtoEinsteinonp.255(http://books.google.com/books?id=7pLjAAAAMAAJ&q=%22natural+and+spiritual%22#search_anchor),
withthewordinggivenas"Thereligionofthefuturewillbeacosmicreligion.ItshouldtranscendapersonalGodandavoiddogmasandtheology.Coveringboththenaturalandthespiritual,itshouldbebasedonareligioussensearisingfromthe
experienceofallthings,naturalandspiritual,asameaningfulunity.Buddhismanswersthisdescription."Anidenticalquoteappearsonp.284(http://books.google.com/books?
id=YpsfAQAAIAAJ&q=%22dogmas+and+theology%22#search_anchor)ofTheMahaBodhi:Volume72publishedbytheMahaBodhiSocietyofIndia,whichseemstocontainissuesfromthroughout1964(http://books.google.com/books?
id=YpsfAQAAIAAJ&q=%22volume+72%22#search_anchor).
AnumberofphrasesinthequotearesimilartophrasesinEinstein's"ReligionandScience".ComparingtheversionofthequoteinTheTheosophisttotheversionof"ReligionandScience"publishedin1930,"acosmicreligion"inthefirst
resembles"thecosmicreligioussense"inthesecond"transcendapersonalGod"resembles"doesnotinvolveananthropomorphicideaofGod""coveringboththenaturalandthespiritual"resembles"revealedinnatureandintheworldof
thought""theexperienceofallthings,naturalandspiritual,asameaningfulunity"resembles"experiencethetotalityofexistenceasaunityfullofsignificance"and"Buddhismanswersthisdescription"resembles"Thecosmicelementismuch
strongerinBuddhism".Thesephrasesappearinthesameorderinbothcases,andtheonesfrom"ReligionandScience"areallfromasingleparagraphoftheessay.

EvilistheresultofwhathappenswhenmandoesnothaveGod'slovepresentinhisheart.
Attributedinemailsin1999,asdebunkedat"MaliceofAbsence"atSnopes.com(http://www.snopes.com/religion/einstein.asp#MX2FyfdMLHissI4T.99)
Variant:EvilistheabsenceofGod.
ThisstatementhasbeenattributedtoothersbeforeEinsteinitsfirstattributiontoEinsteinappearstohavebeeninanemailstorythatbegancirculatingin2004.SeetheUrbanLegendsReferencePages
(http://www.snopes.com/religion/einstein.asp)formorediscussion.

Ifyouareouttodescribethetruth,leaveelegancetothetailor.
EarliestattributionlocatedisTheYogiandtheCommissarbyArthurKoestler(1945),p.v(http://books.google.com/books?id=tys4AAAAIAAJ&q=%22you+are+out+to+describe+the+truth%22#search_anchor).Koestlerprefacesitwith
"MycomfortiswhatEinsteinsaidwhensomebodyreproachedhimwiththesuggestionthathisformulaofgravitationwaslongerandmorecumbersomethanNewton'sformulainitselegantsimplicity".ThisisactuallyavariantofaquoteEinstein
attributedtoLudwigBoltzmanninthePrefacetohisRelativityTheSpecialandGeneralTheory(1916),Einsteinwrote:"IadheredscrupulouslytothepreceptofthatbrillianttheoreticalphysicistL.Boltzmann,accordingtowhommattersof
eleganceoughttobelefttothetailorandtothecobbler."(reprintedinthe2007bookAStubbornlyPersistentIllusion:TheEssentialScientificWorksofAlbertEinsteineditedbyStephenHawking,p.128(http://books.google.com/books?
id=th3Cpu_QYVQC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA128#v=onepage&q&f=false))

Twothingsinspiremetoawe:thestarryheavensandthemoraluniversewithin.
IfEinsteinsaidthis,hewasalmostcertainlyquotingphilosopherImmanuelKant'swordsfromtheconclusiontotheCritiqueofPracticalReason(1788),translatedinPaulGuyer'sTheCambridgeCompaniontoKant(p.1
(http://books.google.com/books?id=pYE5rVzrPNgC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false))as:"Twothingsfillthemindwithevernewandincreasingadmirationandawe,themoreoftenandsteadilywereflectuponthem:thestarry
heavensabovemeandthemorallawwithinme."

Theonlythingthatinterfereswithmylearningismyeducation.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 30/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Theonlythingthatinterfereswithmylearningismyeducation.
ThisissimilartoaquoteattributedtoMarkTwain:"Ineverletmyschoolinggetinthewayofmyeducation".TheearliestpublishedsourcelocatedattributingthequotetoEinsteinisthe1999bookCareerManagementfortheCreativePerson
byLeeT.Silber,p.130(http://books.google.com/books?id=eNjhnHmerfwC&q=%22interferes+with+my+learning%22#search_anchor),whiletheearliestpublishedsourcelocatedfortheMarkTwainquoteisthe1996bookChildrenatRisk
byC.NiallMcElwee,p.45(http://books.google.com/books?id=p_FEAAAAYAAJ&q=%22never+let+schooling+get+in+the+way+of+my+education%22+%22mark+twain%22#search_anchor).Bothquotesappearedontheinternetbefore
that:theearliestpostlocatedthatattributesthequotetoEinsteinisthisonefrom11February1994(http://groups.google.com/group/rec.travel.air/msg/b1feb7ca5019ab2e),whiletheearliestlocatedthatattributesthevarianttoMarkTwainisthis
onefrom28March1988(http://groups.google.com/group/comp.sys.m68k/msg/9c2f7cdecb11eccb)

Thesearchfortruthismorepreciousthanitspossession.
ThisquotedoesappearinEinstein's1940essay"TheFundamentsofPhysics"whichcanbefoundinhisbookOutofMyLaterYears(1950),butEinsteindoesnotclaimcreditforit,insteadcallingit"Lessing'sfinesaying".
Timeandspacearemodesbywhichwethinkandnotconditionsinwhichwelive.
EarliestsourcelocatedthatattributesthistoEinsteinisthe1975bookTheNatureofScientificDiscovery:ASymposiumCommemoratingthe500thAnniversaryoftheBirthofNicolausCopernicuseditedbyOwenGingerich,p.585
(http://books.google.com/books?id=Ub3gAAAAMAAJ&q=%22certainly+a+central%22#search_anchor).Butlongbeforethat,the1944bookEinstein:AnIntimateStudyofaGreatManbyDimitriMarianoffandPalmaWaynecontainsthe
followingquoteonp.62:"ButEinsteincamealongandtookspaceandtimeoutoftherealmofstationarythingsandputthemintherealmofrelativitygivingtheonlookerdominionovertimeandspace,becausetimeandspacearemodesby
whichwethinkandnotconditionsinwhichwelive."ItappearsfromthequotethattheauthorsweregivingtheirowndescriptionofEinstein'sideas,notquotinghim.

Youdonotreallyunderstandsomethingunlessyoucanexplainittoyourgrandmother.
variant:Ifyoucan'texplainsomethingtoasixyearold,youreallydon'tunderstandityourself.
variant:Ifyoucan'texplainitsimply,youdon'tunderstanditwellenough.
FrequentlyattributedtoRichardFeynman
Probablybasedonasimilarquoteaboutexplainingphysicstoa"barmaid"byErnestRutherford
Page418ofEinstein:HisLifeandTimes(1972)byRonaldW.ClarksaysthatLouisdeBrogliedidattributeasimilarstatementtoEinstein:

TodeBroglie,Einsteinrevealedaninstinctivereasonforhisinabilitytoacceptthepurelystatisticalinterpretationofwavemechanics.ItwasareasonwhichlinkedhimwithRutherford,whousedtostatethat"itshouldbepossibletoexplain
thelawsofphysicstoabarmaid."Einstein,havingafinaldiscussionwithdeBroglieontheplatformoftheGareduNordinParis,whencetheyhadtraveledfromBrusselstoattendtheFresnelcentenarycelebrations,said"thatallphysical
theories,theirmathematicalexpressionsapartoughttolendthemselvestososimpleadescription'thatevenachildcouldunderstandthem.'"

ThedeBrogliequoteisfromhis1962bookNewPerspectivesinPhysics,p.184(http://books.google.com/books?id=xY45AAAAMAAJ&q=%22mathematical+expression+apart%22#search_anchor).
Cf.thisquotefromDavidHilbert'stalkMathematicalProblemsgivenin1900beforetheInternationalCongressofMathematicians:

"Amathematicaltheoryisnottobeconsideredcompleteuntilyouhavemadeitsoclearthatyoucanexplainittothefirstmanwhomyoumeetonthestreet."

Cf.thisquotefromKurtVonnegut'snovelCat'sCradle:

Dr.Hoenikkerusedtosaythatanyscientistwhocouldn'texplaintoaneightyearoldwhathewasdoingwasacharlatan.

Yousee,wiretelegraphisakindofavery,verylongcat.YoupullhistailinNewYorkandhisheadismeowinginLosAngeles.Doyouunderstandthis?Andradiooperatesexactlythesameway:yousendsignalshere,theyreceivethemthere.The
onlydifferenceisthatthereisnocat.
EarliestpublishedversionfoundonGoogleBookswiththisphrasingisinthe1993bookTheInternetCompanion:ABeginner'sGuidetoGlobalNetworkingbyTracyL.LaQueyandJeanneC.Ryer,p.25(http://books.google.com/books?
id=sP5SAAAAMAAJ&q=meowing#search_anchor).However,thequoteseemstohavebeencirculatingontheinternetearlierthanthis,appearingforexampleinthispostfrom1987
(http://groups.google.com/group/comp.lang.c/msg/cc89abb5e065d23f?hl=en)andthisonefrom1985(http://groups.google.com/group/net.sources.games/browse_thread/thread/846af15b5a38c35/3d6d5a639c24bba3).Noreferencehasbeen
foundthatcitesasourceinEinstein'soriginalwritings,andthequoteappearstobeavariationofanoldjokethatdatesatleastasfarbackas1866,asdiscussedinthisentryfromthe"QuoteInvestigator"blog
(http://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/02/24/telegraphcat/#more3387).AvariantwastoldbyThomasEdison,appearinginTheDiaryandSundryObservationsofThomasAlvaEdison(1948),p.216(http://books.google.com/books?
id=NXtEAAAAIAAJ&q=edinburgh#search_anchor):"WhenIwasalittleboy,persistentlytryingtofindouthowthetelegraphworkedandwhy,thebestexplanationIevergotwasfromanoldScotchlinerepairerwhosaidthatifyouhadadog
likeadachshundlongenoughtoreachfromEdinburghtoLondon,ifyoupulledhistailinEdinburghhewouldbarkinLondon.Icouldunderstandthat.Butitwashardtogetatwhatitwasthatwentthroughthedogoroverthewire."Avariantof
Edison'scommentcanbefoundinthe1910bookEdison,HisLifeandInventions,Volume1byFrankLewisDyerandThomasCommerfordMartin,p.53(http://books.google.com/books?
id=qN83AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA53#v=onepage&q&f=false).
Thewirelesstelegraphisnotdifficulttounderstand.Theordinarytelegraphislikeaverylongcat.YoupullthetailinNewYork,anditmeowsinLosAngles.Thewirelessisthesame,onlywithoutthecat.
Variant,earliestknownpublishedversionisHowtoThinkLikeEinsteinbyScottThorpe(2000),p.61(http://books.google.com/books?id=9yrYQxBgIYEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA61#v=onepage&q&f=false).Appearedontheinternet
beforethat,asinthisarchivedpagefrom12October1999(http://web.archive.org/web/19991012152820/http://stripe.colorado.edu/%7Ejudy/einstein/advice.html)

Themindthatopenstoanewidea,Nevercomesbacktoitsoriginalsize.
ActuallysaidbyOliverWendellHolmes,Sr.inhisbookTheAutocratoftheBreakfastTable:"Everynowandthenaman'smindisstretchedbyanewideaorsensation,andnevershrinksbacktoitsformerdimensions."

DieAstrologieisteineWissenschaftfrsich.Abereinewegweisende.IchhabevielausihrgelerntundvielenNutzenausihrziehenknnen.DiephysikalischenErkenntnisseunterstreichendieMachtderSterneberirdischesGeschick.
DieAstrologieaberunterstreichtingewissemSinnewiederumdiephysikalischenErkenntnisse.DeshalbistsieeineArtLebenselixierfrdieGesellschaft!
English:Astrologyisascienceinitselfandcontainsanilluminatingbodyofknowledge.Ittaughtmemanythings,andIamgreatlyindebtedtoit.Geophysicalevidencerevealsthepowerofthestarsandtheplanetsinrelationtotheterrestrial.In
turn,astrologyreinforcesthispowertosomeextent.Thisiswhyastrologyislikealifegivingelixirtomankind.
GermanquoteattributedtoEinsteininHutersastrologischerKalender1960[A]
TranslatedbyTadMann,unidentified1987work
ContradictedbyDenisHamel,TheEndoftheEinsteinAstrologySupporterHoax,SkepticalInquirer,Vol.31,No.6(NovDec2007),pp.3943
AliceCalaprice,TheExpandedQuotableEinstein:"AttributedtoEinstein[]AnexcellentexampleofaquotationsomeonemadeupandattributedtoEinsteininordertolendanideacredibility."

Alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing.Soisalot.
AvariationonaquotationofAlexanderPope,attributedtoEinsteininvariousrecentsources,suchasMarvinMinsky'sTheEmotionMachine(2006),p.176(http://books.google.com/books?

id=OqbMnWDKIJ4C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA176#v=onepage&q&f=false),andatthestartofthe2006pilotepisodeofthetelevisionseriesEureka.TheoldestpublishedsourcelocatedattributingthistoEinsteinisthe2004bookStrategic
Investment:RealOptionsandGamesbyHanT.J.SmitandLenosTrigeorgis,p.429(http://books.google.com/books?id=pN41ZtNoqBEC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA429#v=onepage&q&f=false),andbeforethatitwasattributedtohimonthe
internet,theearliestexamplefoundbeingthispostfrom19May1995(http://groups.google.com/group/bit.listserv.physhare/msg/ef186aec3bf66ba6).Butlongbeforethat,thesamequoteappearsinanadvertisementforEncyclopaediaBritannica
thatraninTheAtlanticMonthy:Volume216from1965,p.139(http://books.google.com/books?id=TuMmAQAAIAAJ&q=%22so+is+a+lot%22#search_anchor).TheadmentionedEinsteinbutdidnotdirectlyattributethequotetohim:
"EncyclopaediaBritannicasays:Alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing.Soisalot.Themoreyouknow,themoreyouneedtoknowasAlbertEinstein,forone,mighthavetoldyou.Greatknowledgehasawayofbringingwithitgreat
responsibility.ThepeoplewhoputtheEncyclopaediaBritannicatogetherfeelthesameway.Afterall,ifmostoftheworldhadcometocountonyouasthebestsinglesourceofcomplete,accurate,uptodateinformationoneverything,you'd
wanttobeprettysureyouknewwhatyouweretalkingabout."

Anyintelligentfoolcanmakethingsbigger,morecomplex,andmoreviolent.Ittakesatouchofgeniusandalotofcouragetomoveintheoppositedirection.
ActuallywrittenbyE.F.Schumacherina1973essaytitled"SmallisBeautiful"whichappearedinTheRadicalHumanist:volume37,p.22(http://books.google.com/books?id=oA0IAQAAIAAJ&q=%22more+violent%22#search_anchor).
EarliestpublishedsourcefoundonGoogleBooksattributingthistoEinsteinisBMJ:TheBritishMedicalJournal,volume319,23October1999,p.1102(http://books.google.com/books?
id=bQk7AQAAIAAJ&q=%22more+violent%22#search_anchor).ItwasattributedtoEinsteinontheinternetsomewhatbeforethat,forexampleinthis1997post(http://groups.google.com/group/alt.weemba/msg/2bbf56ab8f4f757d?hl=en).

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 31/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
Computersareincrediblyfast,accurateandstupidhumansareincrediblyslow,inaccurateandbrillianttogethertheyarepowerfulbeyondimagination.
TheearliestpublishedsourcelocatedonGoogleBooksattributingthistoEinsteinisthe2000bookTheInternetHandbookforWriters,Researchers,andJournalistsbyMaryMcGuire,p.14(http://books.google.com/books?id=Sb
v0K2EkNAC&q=einstein#search_anchor).Itwasattributedtohimontheinternetbeforethat,asinthispostfrom1997(http://groups.google.com/group/comp.graphics.apps.lightwave/msg/d13c55cc4cca4867?hl=en).Variantsofthequotecan
befoundwellbeforethishowever,asinthe1989bookUrbanSurfaceWaterManagementbyS.G.Walesh,whichonp.315(http://books.google.com/books?id=
LcZUPtDykQC&q=%22beyond+imagination%22#v=snippet&q=%22beyond%20imagination%22&f=false)containsthestatement(saidtohavebeen'statedanonymously'):"Thecomputerisincrediblyfast,accurate,andstupid.Manis
unbelievablyslow,inaccurate,andbrilliant.Themarriageofthetwoisachallengeandopportunitybeyondimagination."Evenearlier,thearticle"APaperIndustryApplicationofSystemsEngineeringandDirectDigitalControl"
(http://books.google.com/books?id=AYpAQAAIAAJ&q=%22and+direct+digital+control%22#search_anchor)byH.D.Couture,Jr.andM.A.Keyes,whichappearsinthe1969AdvancesinInstrumentation:Vol24,Part4,hasa
statementonthispage(http://books.google.com/books?id=AYpAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Computers+are+incredibly+fast%2C+accurate+and+stupid%22#search_anchor)whichusesphrasingsimilartothesupposedEinsteinquoteindescribing
computersandpeople:"Computersareincrediblyfast,accurate,andstupid.Ontheotherhand,awelltrainedoperatorascomparedwithacomputerisincrediblyslow,inaccurateandbrilliant."Variantswithslightlydifferentwordingcanbefound
earlierthan1969,asinthisApril1968article(http://journals.lww.com/joem/Citation/1968/04000/Fast,_Accurate_and_Stupid.10.aspx).Theearliestsourcelocated,andmostlikelytheoriginofthissaying,isanarticletitled"Problems,Too,Have
Problems"byJohnPfeiffer,whichappearedintheOctober1961issueofFortunemagazine.Asquotedhere(http://books.google.com/books?
id=TwwQAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Man+is+a+slow%2C+sloppy%2C+and+brilliant+thinker%3B+computers+are+fast%2C+accurate%2C+and+stupid%22#search_anchor),Pfeiffer'sarticlecontainedtheline"Manisaslow,sloppy,andbrilliant
thinkercomputersarefast,accurate,andstupid."

Educationisthatwhichremains,ifonehasforgotteneverythinghelearnedinschool.
Einsteindidwritethisquotein"OnEducation"from1936,whichappearedinOutofMyLaterYears,butitwasnothisownoriginalquip,heattributedittoanunnamed"wit".
VerypopularinFrench:"Lacultureestcequirestelorsquelonatoutoubli"(Cultureisthatwhichremains,ifonehasforgotteneverything).AttributedinFrenchtodouardHerriot(18721957)and,inEnglish,sometimestoOrtegay
Gasset.AnotherFrenchvariantis"lacultureestcequirestelorsqu'onaoublitoutesleschosesapprises"(Cultureisthatwhichremainsifonehasforgotteneverythingonehaslearned),whichappearsinthe1912bookProposCritiquesby
GeorgesDuhamel,p.14(http://books.google.com/books?id=Xpk_AAAAIAAJ&q=%22la+culture+est+ce+qui+reste+lorsqu%27on+a+oubli%C3%A9+toutes+les+choses+apprises%22#search_anchor).AndanotherEnglishvariantis"Culture
isthatwhichremainswithamanwhenhehasforgottenallhehaslearned"whichappearsinTheLivingAge:Volume335from1929,p.159(http://books.google.com/books?
id=tHFRAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Culture+is+that+which+remains+with+a+man+when+he+has+forgotten+all+he+has+learned%22#search_anchor),whereitisattributedto"EdouardHerriot,FrenchMinisterofEducation".AnotherEnglish
variantis"Educationisthatwhichremainsbehindwhenallwehavelearnedatschoolisforgotten",whichappearsinTheEducationOutlook,vol.60p.532(http://books.google.com/books?id=dNcgAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1
PA532#v=onepage&q=%22education%20is%20that%20which%20remains%22&f=false)(fromanissuedated2December1907),whereitisattributedtoRalphWaldoEmerson.

Ifthebeedisappearsfromthesurfaceoftheearth,manwouldhavenomorethanfouryearstolive.Nomorebees,nomorepollinationnomoremen!
Avariant"ProfessorEinstein,thelearnedscientist,oncecalculatedthatifallbeesdisappearedofftheearth,fouryearslaterallhumanswouldalsohavedisappeared"appearsinTheIrishBeekeeper,v.1920,196566,p74,citingAbeilles
etFleurs(BeesandFlowers,thehousemagazineofUnionNationaledel'ApicultureFranaise)forJune1965.Snopes.commentionsitsuseinabeekeepers'protestin1994inEurope[8](http://www.snopes.com/quotes/einstein/bees.asp)
suggestinginventionandattributiontoEinsteinforpoliticalreasons.

Themostimportantdecisionwecanmakeiswhetherthisisafriendlyorhostileuniverse.Fromthatonedecisionallothersspring.
Multiplevariationsofthisquotecanbefound,buttheearliestoneonGoogleBookswhichusesthephrase"friendlyorhostile"andattributesittoEinsteinisTheCompleteIdiot'sGuidetoSpiritualHealingbySusanGregg(2000),p.5
(http://books.google.com/books?id=XLQ8X67PozAC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q&f=false),andthisbookgivesnosourceforthequote.
AvariantisfoundinIrvingOyle'sTheNewAmericanMedicineShow(1979)onp.163,whereOylewrites:'ThereisastoryaboutAlbertEinstein'sviewofhumanexistence.Askedtoposethemostvitalquestionfacinghumanity,hereplied,"Is
theuniversefriendly?"'Thisvariantisrepeatedinanumberofbooksfromthe1980sand90s,soitprobablypredatesthe"friendlyorhostile"version.Andtheideathatthemostimportantquestionwecanaskis"Istheuniversefriendly?"dates
backmuchearlierthantheattributiontoEinstein,forexampleinEmilCarlWilm's1912bookTheProblemofReligionheincludesthefollowingfootnoteonp.114(http://books.google.com/books?
id=nWYiAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA114#v=onepage&q&f=false):'AfriendproposedtothelateF.W.H.Myersthefollowingquestion:"Whatisthethingwhichaboveallothersyouwouldliketoknow?IfyoucouldasktheSphinxonequestion,
andonlyone,whatwouldthequestionbe?"Afteramoment'ssilenceMyersreplied:"Ithinkitwouldbethis:Istheuniversefriendly?"'

Thedefinitionofinsanityisdoingthesamethingoverandoverandexpectingdifferentresults.
VariouslymisattributedtofiguresalsoincludingBenjaminFranklinandMarkTwain.Theearliestknownoccurrence,andprobableorigin,isfroma1981textfromNarcoticsAnonymous.

Timeisnature'swayofkeepingeverythingfromhappeningatonce.
ItseemsthatthisquotehasonlybeguntobeattributedtoEinsteinrecently,theearliestpublishedsourcelocatedbeingthe2008bookVisualizationforDummiesbyBernardGolden,p.85(http://books.google.com/books?
id=2ppZkdmpSlgC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA85#v=onepage&q&f=false).BeforethatitwasoftenattributedtothephysicistJohnWheeler,whoquotedthesayinginComplexity,Entropy,andthePhysicsofInformation,p.10
(http://books.google.com/books?id=mdjsOeTgatsC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q&f=false).Infact,thisquipismucholdertheearliestsourcelocatedisRayCummings'1922sciencefictionnovelTheGirlintheGoldenAtom,
availableonProjectGutenberghere(http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21094)(accordingtoScienceFiction:TheEarlyYearsbyEverettF.Bleiler,p.171(http://books.google.com/books?
id=KEZxhkG5eikC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA171#v=onepage&q&f=false),thenovelwasacompositeoftwoearlierstoriespublishedin1919and1920).ChapterV(http://www.gutenberg.org/files/21094/21094h/21094h.htm#CHAPTER_V)
containsthefollowingparagraph:TheBigBusinessMansmiled."Time,"hesaid,"iswhatkeepseverythingfromhappeningatonce."ThenextearliestsourcefoundforthisquoteisanotherbookbyRayCummings,TheManWho
MasteredTime(http://books.google.com/books?id=YdZEAAAAYAAJ&q=%22everything+from+happening+at+once%22#search_anchor)from1929,andnopublishedexamplesofthequotefromauthorsotherthanCummingscanbefound
untilthe1962FilmFacts:Volume5whereitappearsonp.48(http://books.google.com/books?id=sr0vAQAAIAAJ&q=%22everything+from+happening+at+once%22#search_anchor).So,itseemslikelythatRayCummingsisthereal
originatorofthissaying.

Noteverythingthatcanbecountedcounts,andnoteverythingthatcountscanbecounted.
FromWilliamBruceCameron'sInformalSociology:ACasualIntroductiontoSociologicalThinking(1963),p.13.ThecommentispartofalongerparagraphanddoesnotappearinquotationsinCameron'sbook,andothersources
(http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22not%20everything%20that%20can%20be%20counted%20counts%22%20cameron&um=1&ie=UTF8&tbo=u&tbs=bks:1&source=og&sa=N&tab=wp)suchasTheStudent'sCompanionto
Sociology(p.92)(http://books.google.com/books?
id=KMsB1GE8dBEC&lpg=PA92&dq=%22Not%20everything%20that%20can%20be%20counted%20counts%22&pg=PA92#v=onepage&q=%22Not%20everything%20that%20can%20be%20counted%20counts%22&f=false)attribute
thequotetoCameron.Anumberofrecentbooks(http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&tbo=p&tbs=bks:1&q=%22not+everything+that+can+be+counted%22+einstein+princeton&start=0&sa=N)claimthatEinsteinhadasignwiththese
wordsinhisofficeinPrinceton,butuntilareliablehistoricalsourcecanbefoundtosupportthis,skepticismiswarranted.TheearliestsourceonGoogleBooksthatmentionsthequoteinassociationwithEinsteinandPrincetonisCharlesA.
Garfield's1986bookPeakPerformers:TheNewHeroesofAmericanBusiness,inwhichhewroteonp.156:

AlbertEinsteinlikedtounderscorethemicro/macropartnershipwitharemarkfromSirGeorgePickeringthathechalkedontheblackboardinhisofficeattheInstituteforAdvancedStudiesatPrinceton:"Noteverythingthatcountscanbe
counted,andnoteverythingthatcanbecountedcounts."

IfonlyIhadknown,Ishouldhavebecomeawatchmaker.
AccordingtoTheQuoteVerifier(2006)byRalphKeyes,Einsteinneversaidanysuchthing.(Accordingtop.285ofthebook's"sourcenotes"KeyescheckedNewStatesman16April1965,whichiscommonlycitedasthesourceofthis
quote.Someotherbooksclaimit'sfromNewStatesman16April1955andatleastonehasitas1945,butaGoogleBookssearch(http://books.google.com/advanced_book_search?
num=10&q=einstein+watchmaker+%22new+statesman%22)withthedaterangerestrictedto19001995showsthatalltheearliestsourcesgiveitas1965.Thisincludestheearliestsourcelocated,ThePenguinDictionaryofModern
Quotationsfrom1971,ascanbeverifiedbythissearch(http://www.google.com/search?q=%22of+his+making+the+atom+bomb+possible.+quoted+in+new+statesman%2C+16+april+1965%22&btnG=Search+Books&tbm=bks&tbo=1).)
KeyesnotesthatEinstein"didusesimilarwordstomakeaverydifferentpoint"whenhewrote,ina1954lettertotheeditoratTheReportermagazine,"IfIwouldbeayoungmanagainandhadtodecidehowtomakemyliving,Iwouldnottry
tobecomeascientistorscholarorteacher.Iwouldratherchoosetobeaplumberorapeddlerinthehopetofindthatmodestdegreeofindependencestillavailableunderpresentcircumstances."
Similarly,inEinsteinandthePoetbyWilliamHermanns,p.86(http://books.google.com/books?id=QXCyjj6T5ZUC&lpg=PP1&pg=PA86#v=onepage&q&f=false),Einsteinisquotedsayingthefollowingina1948interview:"IfIshouldbe
bornagain,Iwillbecomeacobbleranddomythinkinginpeace."

Ifthefactsdon'tfitthetheory,changethefacts.
TheearliestpublishedattributionofthisquotetoEinsteinfoundonGoogleBooksisthe1991bookTheArtofComputerSystemsPerformanceAnalysisbyRajJain(p.507),butnosourcetoEinstein'soriginalwritingsisgivenandthequote
itselfisolderforexampleNewGuard:Volume5,Issue3from1961saysonp.312(http://books.google.com/books?id=5BbZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22fit+the+theory%22#search_anchor)"Someoneoncesaidthatifthefactsdonotfitthe
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 32/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
itselfisolderforexampleNewGuard:Volume5,Issue3from1961saysonp.312(http://books.google.com/books?id=5BbZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22fit+the+theory%22#search_anchor)"Someoneoncesaidthatifthefactsdonotfitthe
theory,thenthefactsmustbechanged",whileProductengineering:Volume29,Issues912from1958givestheslightvariantonp.9"Thereisanageoldadage,'Ifthefactsdon'tfitthetheory,changethetheory.'Buttoooftenit'seasierto
keepthetheoryandchangethefacts."Thesequotesarethemselvesprobablyvariantsofanevenearliersayingwhichusedthephrasing"somuchtheworseforthefacts",manyexamplesofwhichcanbeseeninthissearch
(http://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&tbm=bks&q=facts+fit+%22so+much+the+worse+for+the+facts%22&tbs=,cdr:1,cd_max:Dec%2031_2%201950&num=10)forexample,the1851AmericanWhigReview,Volumes1314saysonp.
488(http://books.google.com/books?id=910CAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA488#v=onepage&q&f=false)"However,Mr.Newhallmaypossiblyhavebeenofthatcausist'sopinion,who,whentoldthatthefactsofthematterdidnotbearouthis
hypothesis,said'Somuchtheworseforthefacts.'"TheGermanidealistphilosopherJohannGottliebFichtecirca1800didsay"Iftheoryconflictswiththefacts,somuchtheworseforthefacts."TheHungarianMarxistGeorgLukacsinhis
"TacticsandEthics"(1923)echoedthesamequotation.

Theintuitivemindisasacredgiftandtherationalmindisafaithfulservant.Wehavecreatedasocietythathonorstheservantandhasforgottenthegift.
Commonlyquotedontheinternet,andalsoinrecentbookssuchasPlanetarySurvivalManualbyMatthewStein(2000),p.51.
Stein'sbookistheearliestpublishedsourcelocatedwiththatpreciseversionofthequote,butthequotecanbefoundinearlierUsenetpostssuchasthisonefrom1995(http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.ascii/msg/d9f6ec3887950a0d?
hl=en),andotherpublishedvariantsofthequoteusingthewords"sacredgift"canbefoundearlier.AGoogleBookssearch(http://books.google.com/advanced_book_search?q=%22sacred+gift%22+einstein)withthedaterangerestrictedto
19001990showsonlyahandfulinthe1980sand1970s,andseveralofthemattributeittoTheMetaphoricMindbyBobSamples(1976),whichalsoseemstobetheearliestpublishedvariant.Samplesdoesnotprovideanexactquote,but
writesonp.26:"AlbertEinsteincalledtheintuitiveormetaphoricmindasacredgift.Headdedthattherationalmindwasafaithfulservant.Itisparadoxicalthatinthecontextofmodernlifewehavebeguntoworshiptheservantanddefilethe
divine."ItseemsasifthelastsentenceaboutworshippingtheservantisjustSamples'owncomment(thoughinlatervariantsitbecamepartofthesupposedquote),whiletheearliersentencesonlyparaphrasesomethingthatSamplesclaims
Einsteintohavesaid.Einsteinhadmanyquotesaboutthevalueofintuitionandimagination,butthespecificword"gift"canbefoundinacommentrememberedbyJnosPleschinthesectionAttributedinposthumouspublications,"WhenI
examinemyselfandmymethodsofthoughtIcometotheconclusionthatthegiftoffantasyhasmeantmoretomethanmytalentforabsorbingpositiveknowledge."So,BobSamplesmighthavebeenparaphrasingthatcomment.LikewiseEinstein
hadanumberofquotesabouttheintellectbeingsecondarytointuition,butthelanguageoftheintellect"serving"canbefoundinaquotefromtheOutofMyLaterYears(1950)section,"Andcertainlyweshouldtakecarenottomaketheintellect
ourgodithas,ofcourse,powerfulmuscles,butnopersonality.Itcannotlead,itcanonlyserveanditisnotfastidiousinitschoiceofaleader."

Nuclearpowerisahellofawaytoboilwater.
Commonlyquotedontheinternet,thisquoteisactuallyfromKarlGrossman,viahis1980bookCoverUp:WhatYouareNotSupposedtoKnowAboutNuclearPower(p.155freelyavailableonlineviaitspublisher
(http://www.thepermanentpress.com/p354coverup.aspx)seePDFpage187).

Ifacluttereddeskisthesignofaclutteredmind,whatisthesignificanceofacleandesk?
Variant:anemptydesk
AttributedtoDr.LaurenceJ.Peter.Earliestsourceis"Peter'sQuotations,"page339.(http://fauxinstein.blogspot.com/2013/04/ifclutteredissignofclutteredmind.html)

Informationisnotknowledge.Theonlysourceofknowledgeisexperience.
AccordingtoBarbaraWolff,ofTheHebrewUniversity'sAlbertEinsteinArchives,thisisnotoneofEinstein'sidentifiablequotations.(Source:paralegalpie.com(http://www.paralegalpie.com/paralegalpie/2009/11/didanybodyreallysay
that.html))

QuotesaboutEinstein
Arrangedalphabeticallybyauthor

Iwasparticularlywonoverbyhissweetdisposition,byhisgeneralkindness,byhissimplicity,andbyhisfriendliness.Occasionally,gaietywouldgaintheupperhandandhewouldstrikeamore
personalnoteandevendisclosesomedetailofhisdaytodaylife.Thenagain,revertingtohischaracteristicmoodofreflectionandmeditation,hewouldlaunchintoaprofoundandoriginaldiscussionofavarietyof
scientificandotherproblems.Ishallalwaysremembertheenchantmentofallthosemeetings,fromwhichIcarriedawayanindelibleimpressionofEinstein'sgreathumanqualities.
LouisdeBroglie,NewPerspectivesinPhysics,p.182

Likemanyothergreatscientistshedoesnotfittheboxesinwhichpopularpolemicistsliketopigeonholehim.ItisclearforexamplethathehadrespectforthereligiousvaluesenshrinedwithinJudaic
andChristiantraditionsbutwhatheunderstoodbyreligionwassomethingfarmoresubtlethanwhatisusuallymeantbythewordinpopulardiscussion.
JohnBrooke(http://users.ox.ac.uk/~theo0038/biogbrooke.html),asquotedin"Childishsuperstition:Einstein'slettermakesviewofreligionrelativelyclear"inTheGuardian(13May2008)
Iwasparticularlywonoverbyhis
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/may/12/peopleinscience.religion) sweetdisposition,byhisgeneral
kindness,byhissimplicity,andbyhis
Einsteinreliedonmysticalinsightsinsightsthathismathematicswerenotgoodenoughtoprove.Hispapersareriddledwitherrorsandconvenientomissionsthoughtheywerelazyfudgesratherthan,
friendliness.~LouisdeBroglie
aswithNewton,deliberatefrauds.
MichaelBrooks,FreeRadicals:TheSecretAnarchyofScience(2012)

HetookcreditfortheE=mc2equationeventhoughhewasn'tthefirsttosuggestit.Neitherdidheevermanagetoproveit,despiteeightpublishedattempts...
MichaelBrooks,FreeRadicals:TheSecretAnarchyofScience(2012)

SomepeoplehavereportedthatEinsteinwasquiteagoodmusician,butothersweren'tsoenthusiastic.Aprofessionalviolinistclaimedhe"fiddledlikealumberjack"afamouspianistplayingwithhimdemanded,
"Forheaven'ssakeAlbert,can'tyoucount?"andamusiccriticinBerlin,thinkingEinsteinwasfamousforhisviolinplayingratherthanphysics,judgedthat"Einstein'splayingisexcellent,buthedoesnotdeserve
worldfametherearemanyothersjustasgood."
AliceCalaprice&TrevorLipscombe,AlbertEinstein:ABiography(2005)

LikeHilbert,Einsteindidhisgreatworkuptotheageoffortywithoutanyreductionistbias.Hiscrowningachievement,thegeneralrelativistictheoryofgravitation,grewoutofadeepphysical
understandingofnaturalprocesses.Onlyattheveryendofhistenyearstruggletounderstandgravitationdidhereducetheoutcomeofhisunderstandingtoafinitesetoffieldequations.Butlike
Hilbert,ashegrewolderheconcentratedhisattentionmoreandmoreontheformalpropertiesofhisequations,andhelostinterestinthewideruniverseofideasoutofwhichhisequationsarose.Hislasttwenty
IlikequotingEinstein.Knowwhy?
yearswerespentinafruitlesssearchforasetofequationsthatwouldunifythewholeofphysics,withoutpayingattentiontotherapidlyproliferatingexperimentaldiscoveriesthatanyunifiedtheorywouldhaveto
Becausenobodydarescontradictyou.
explain.Idonothavetosaymoreabout...Einstein'slonelyattempttoreducephysicstoafinitesetofmarksonpaper.HisattemptfailedasdismallyasHilbert'sattempttodothesamethingin
~StudsTerkel
mathematics.
FreemanDyson,TheScientistAsRebel(2006)

Einsteininreallifewasnotonlyagreatpoliticianandagreatphilosopher.Hewasalsoagreatobserverofthehumancomedy,witharobustsenseofhumor.ThethirdsideofEinsteinspersonalityisnotemphasizedbyGimbel,butwasanimportantcause
ofhisimmensepopularity.HecameasanobservertomyboardingschoolinEnglandin1931,afewyearsbeforeIarrivedthere.HewasinEnglandastheguestofFrederickLindemann,anOxfordphysicistwhowasalsoafriendandadvisertoWinston
Churchill.
FreemanDyson,"EinsteinasaJewandaPhilosopher",TheNewYorkReviewofBooks(May7,2015)

Thelongituderacewasreborninatwentiethcenturyversion,asoptimisticinventorsdesigneddevicestosynchronizetimepiecesallovertheworld.Aimingtoprotectthefortunestheyenvisagedreaping,theyappliedforpatentsinSwitzerland,centerofthe
clockmakingtrade.AndmanyoftheirdesignslandedonthedeskofaphilosophicalphysicistwhowasoriginallymoreinterestedinthermodynamicsthanintimePatentOfficerAlbertEinstein.
PatriciaFara,ScienceAFourThousandYearHistory(2009)

Einstein,whothoughtthathehadaunifiedtheoryjustaroundthecorner,butdidn'tknowanythingaboutnucleiandwasunableofcoursetoguessit.
RichardFeynman,interviewpublishedinSuperstrings:ATheoryofEverything?(1988)editedbyPaulC.W.DaviesandJulianR.Brown
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 33/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
RichardFeynman,interviewpublishedinSuperstrings:ATheoryofEverything?(1988)editedbyPaulC.W.DaviesandJulianR.Brown

Einsteinwasagiant.Hisheadwasintheclouds,buthisfeetwereontheground.Thoseofuswhoarenotsotallhavetochoose!
RichardFeynman,asquotedinCollectiveElectrodynamics:QuantumFoundationsofElectromagnetism(2002)byCarverA.Mead,p.xix

IalwaysliketorememberthatEinstein,inhislastthreedecadesoflife,followedthisdreamandseemedtobecompletelyunawareoftheexcitingdevelopmentsthatwerehappeninginnuclearphysicsduringthistime.
SheldonGlashow,interviewpublishedinSuperstrings:ATheoryofEverything?(1988)editedbyPaulC.W.DaviesandJulianR.Brown

Heusedtosaythelefthandsideofhisequationisbeautifulandtherighthandsideisugly.Muchofwhathewasdoinginthelatterpartofhiscareerwastryingtomovetherighthandsidetotheleft...andunderstandmatterasa
geometricalstructure.Tobuildmatteritselffromgeometrythatinasenseiswhatstringtheorydoes....especiallyinatheoryliketheheteroticstringwhichisinherentlyatheoryofgravityinwhichtheparticlesofmatteraswellastheotherforcesof
natureemergeinthesamewaythatgravityemergesfromgeometry.Einsteinwouldhavebeenpleasedwiththis,atleastwiththegoal,ifnottherealization.
"DavidGross"interview,Superstrings:ATheoryofEverything?(1992)ed.P.C.W.Davies,JulianBrown

Einsteinappearstohavebeenunawarethatonlycalculationanddistributionintermsofmarketpricesmakeitpossibletoutiliseourdiscoverableresourcesintensively,toguideproductiontoserveendslyingbeyondtherangeoftheproducer'sperception,
andtoenabletheindividualtoparticipateusefullyinproductiveexchange(first,byservingpeople,mostlyunknowntohim,tothegratificationofwhoseneedshecannonethelesseffectivelycontributeandsecond,byhimselfbeingsuppliedaswellasheis
onlybecausepeoplewhoknownothingabouthisexistenceareinduced,alsobymarketsignals,toprovideforhisneeds:seethepreviouschapter).InfollowingsuchsentimentsEinsteinshowshislackofcomprehensionof,orrealinterestin,theactual
processesbywhichhumaneffortsarecoordinated.
FriedrichHayek,TheFatalConceit(1988),Ch.4:TheRevoltofInstinctandReason

Iflighttakesthepathwiththeleasttimebetweentwopoints,andlightbeamsbendundertheinfluenceofgravity,thentheshortestdistancebetweentwopointsisacurvedline.Einsteinwasshockedbythisconclusion:Iflightcouldbeobservedtravelingina
curvedline,itwouldmeanthatspaceitselfiscurved.
MichioKaku,Hyperspace:AScientificOdysseyThroughParallelUniverses,TimeWarps,andthe10thDimension(1995)

EinsteinindependentlydiscoveredRiemann'soriginalprogram,togiveapurelygeometricexplanationtotheconceptof"force."ToRiemann,thebendingandwarpingofspacecausestheappearanceofaforce.Thusforcesdonotreallyexistwhatis
actuallyhappeningisthatspaceitselfisbeingbentoutofshape.TheproblemwithRiemann'sapproach...wasthathehadnoideaspecificallyhowgravityorelectricityandmagnetismcausedthewarpingofspace....HereEinsteinsucceededwhereRiemann
failed.
MichioKaku,Hyperspace:AScientificOdysseyThroughParallelUniverses,TimeWarps,andthe10thDimension(1995)

Einsteinshowedthattheaetherwasunnecessary.However,heneversaidthattheaetherdidn'texist.Hemerelysaiditwasirrelevant.Thus,byOccam'srazor,physicistsdon'trefertotheaetheranymore.
MichioKaku,Hyperspace:AScientificOdysseyThroughParallelUniverses,TimeWarps,andthe10thDimension(1995)

Themathematicalgeniuscanonlycarryonfromthepointwhichmathematicalknowledgewithinhisculturehasalreadyreached.ThusifEinsteinhadbeenbornintoaprimitivetribewhichwasunabletocountbeyondthree,lifelongapplicationto
mathematicsprobablywouldnothavecarriedhimbeyondthedevelopmentofadecimalsystembasedonfingersandtoes.
RalphLinton,TheStudyofMan(1936)

1905isoftendescribedasEinsteinsannusmirabilis:awonderfulyearinwhichhecameupwiththreeremarkableideas.TheseweretheBrownianmotioninfluids,thephotoelectriceffectandthespecialtheoryofrelativity.Eachofthesewasofabasic
natureandalsohadawideimpactonphysics.
JayantV.Narlikar,AnIntroductiontoRelativity(2010)

UnderGrossman'sguidence,Einsteinstudiedandlearnedtensoranalysis.Thetwomenactuallypublishedseveralpaperstogether,buttheworkatthisstagewasstillakindofgropinginthedarkamindtormentingsearchfortheone
equationoutofhundredsthatwasthecorrectone....Interestingly,thecorrectequationwasactuallyconsideredbriefly,butrejectedbyEinsteinbecausehecametothemistakenconclusionthatitviolatedcausality.Thenafurthermistakeledtothe
abandonmentoftheprincipleofcovariance.
BarryParker,Einstein'sDream:TheSearchforaUnifiedTheoryoftheUniverse(1986)

Ponderingabouttheproblem,Einsteinthoughtaboutthebeamoflightcurvingaroundthelimbofthesunhesoonrealizedthatitwasnotthebeamthatwasbent,butratherthespacethroughwhichittraveled.Mattermustsomehowcurvespaceandother
mattermustmovethroughthiscurvedspaceinthewayweseeitmoveyetthiswaymustbe"natural."Hedecidedthemostnaturalwaywouldbealongapaththatrepresentedtheshortestdistancebetweentwogivenpointsinspace(thisiscalledthe
geodesicinmathematics).Thiswouldmeanthatthesuncurvesthespacearounditandtheplanetsmoveinthisspacealonggeodesics.Thesegeodesicsappeartoustobeellipticalorbits,butincurvedspacetheyareactuallystraight
lines.
BarryParker,Einstein'sDream:TheSearchforaUnifiedTheoryoftheUniverse(1986)

Fromasimplepointofview,then,Einstein'sequationcanbewritten:tensorA=tensorB,wheretensorAdescribesthecurvatureofspaceandtensorBdescribesthematterthatcausesthecurvature.Inpractice,Bcanalsocontaintermsdescribing
anelectromagneticfieldsinceelectromagneticfieldsrepresentenergy,andenergyisjustanotherformofmass.Einstein'sdissatisfactioncenteredontensorB.
BarryParker,Einstein'sDream:TheSearchforaUnifiedTheoryoftheUniverse(1986)referringtotheEinsteinfieldequationsofgeneralrelativity.

Summingup,wemaysaythatthereishardlyoneamongthegreatproblems,inwhichmodernphysicsissorich,towhichEinsteinhasnotmadeanimportantcontribution.Thathemaysometimeshavemissedthetargetinhisspeculations,as,for
example,inhishypothesisoflightquanta,cannotreallybeheldtoomuchagainsthim,foritisnotpossibletointroducefundamentallynewideas,eveninthemostexactsciences,withoutoccasionallytakingrisk.
MaxPlanck(withWaltherNernst,HeinrichRubensandEmilWarburg),(1913)letterofrecommendationformembershipinthePrussianAcademyofSciences(1913)CollectedPapersofAlbertEinstein(CPAE)Vol.5,Doc.445(1993)

IcannotreallyendorsePlanck'sphilosophy,evenifitislogicallyvalidandeventhoughIrespectthehumanattitudestowhichitgivesrise.
Einstein'sconceptionisclosertomine.HisGodissomehowinvolvedintheimmutablelawsofnature.Einsteinhasafeelingforthecentralorderofthings.Hecandetectitinthesimplicityofnaturallaws.Wemaytakeitthathefeltthissimplicity
verystronglyanddirectlyduringhisdiscoveryofthetheoryofrelativity.Admittedly,thisisafarcryfromthecontentsofreligion.Idon'tbelieveEinsteinistiedtoanyreligioustradition,andIratherthinktheideaofapersonalGodisentirelyforeign
tohim.Butasfarasheisconcernedthereisnosplitbetweenscienceandreligion:thecentralorderispartofthesubjectiveaswellastheobjectiverealm,andthisstrikesmeasbeingafarbetterstartingpoint.
WolfgangPauli,instatementsaftertheSolvayConferenceof1927,asquotedinPhysicsandBeyond(1971)(http://www.edge.org/conversation/scienceandreligion)byWernerHeisenberg

Itriedtopersuadehimtogiveuphisdeterminism,whichamountedtotheviewthattheworldwasafourdimensionalParmenideanblockuniverseinwhichchangewasahumanillusion,orverynearlyso.(Heagreedthatthishad
beenhisview,andwhilediscussingitIcalledhim"Parmenides".)Iarguedthatifmen,orotherorganisms,couldexperiencechangeandgenuinesuccessionintime,thenthiswasreal.Itcouldnotbeexplainedawaybyatheoryofthesuccessive
risingintoourconsciousnessoftimesliceswhichinsomesensecoexistforthiskindof"risingintoconsciousness"wouldhavepreciselythesamecharacterasthatsuccessionofchangeswhichthetheorytriestoexplainaway.Itriedtopresentto
EinsteinParmenidesasstronglyasIcouldmyconvictionthataclearstandmustbemadeagainstanyidealisticviewoftime.AndIalsotriedtoshowthat,thoughtheidealisticviewwascompatiblewithbothdeterminismandindeterminism,aclearstand
shouldbemadeinfavourofan"open"universeoneinwhichthefuturewasinnosensecontainedinthepastorthepresent,eventhoughtheydoimposesevererestrictionsonit.Iarguedthatweshouldnotbeswayedbyourtheoriestogiveuprealism
(forwhichthestrongestargumentswerebasedoncommonsense),thoughIthinkthathewasreadytoadmit,asIwas,thatwemightbeforcedonedaytogiveitupifverypowerfularguments(ofGdel'stype,say)weretobebroughtagainstit.Itherefore
arguedthatwithregardtotime,andalsotoindeterminism(thatis,theincompletenessofphysics),thesituationwaspreciselysimilartothesituationwithregardtorealism.Appealingtohisownwayofexpressingthingsintheologicalterms,Isaid:ifGodhad
wantedtoputeverythingintotheworldfromthebeginning,Hewouldhavecreatedauniversewithoutchange,withoutorganismsandevolution,andwithoutmanandman'sexperienceofchange.ButHeseemstohavethoughtthataliveuniversewith
eventsunexpectedevenbyHimselfwouldbemoreinterestingthanadeadone.
KarlPopper,inUnendedQuest:AnIntellectualAutobiography,p.148(http://books.google.com/books?id=CxND59gFftMC&pg=PA148)

Einsteinhadarareabilitytorecognizethecoreprinciplesthataccountfortheworldweobserve.HisperceptionswereneverdivertedbythemanyfascinatingdistractionsthatenshroudNaturesunderlyingreality.Commonsense,oftenasourceofcomfort,
candistract.Experimentaldata,alwaystheultimateauthority,candistract.Einsteinsawbeyondcommonsenseand,whileherespectedexperimentaldata,hewasnotitsslave.HesawNatureasitis.
JohnS.Rigden,Einstein1905:TheStandardofGreatness(2005),Prologue:TheStandardofGreatness:WhyEinstein?

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 34/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote

MenlikeEinsteinproclaimobvioustruthsaboutwarbutarenotlistenedto.SolongasEinsteinisunintelligible,heisthoughtwise,butassoonashesaysanythingthatpeoplecanunderstand,itisthoughtthathiswisdomhas
departedfromhim.
BertrandRussell,DoGovernmentsDesireWar?(1932),anewspaperarticleforthe"NewYorkAmerican"(asquotedinMortalsandOthers,v.1,1975)

Oh,hewasalovelyman,Einstein.Oh,lovelyman.Hehadthemostperfectsimplicityandperfectmodesty,andallhisfeelingswerehumane.
BertrandRussell,inaninterview(http://www.russellsocietylibrary.com/SUSSKIND.PDF)withDavidSusskind(10June1962)

Itdidnotlast:theDevilhowling'Ho!
LetEinsteinbe!'restoredthestatusquo.
J.C.Squire,in"IncontinuationofPopeonNewton"(1926)SquireishereextendinguponthefamousstatementofAlexanderPope:

NatureandNature'slawslayhidinnight:
Godsaid,LetNewtonbe!andallwaslight.

AsquotedinTheEpigrammatists:ASelectionfromtheEpigrammaticLiteratureofAncient,Medival,andModernTimes(1875)byHenryPhilipDodd,p.329

Napoleon,andothergreatmenofhistype,theyweremakersofempire.Butthereisanorderofmenthatgetbeyondthat:Theyarenotmakersofempire,buttheyaremakersofuniverse.Andwhentheyhavemadethoseuniverses,their
handsareunstainedbythebloodofanyhumanbeingonearth.Ptolemymadeauniverse,whichlasted1400years.Newtonalsomadeauniverse,whichhaslasted300years.Einsteinhasmadeauniverse,andIcan'ttellyouhowlongthatwill
last.
GeorgeBernardShaw,inaspeechinhonourofEinsteinattheSavoyHotelinLondon(28October1930)

Thismanisnotchallengingthefactofscienceheischallengingtheaction[oraxioms]ofscience.Notonlyishechallengingtheactionofscience,buttheactionofsciencehassurrenderedtohischallenge.
GeorgeBernardShaw,dinnerspeech,SavoyHotel,London(Oct28,1930)asquotedbyMichaelHolroyd,"AlbertEinstein,UniverseMaker,"TheNewYorkTimes(Mar14,1991)Ref"axioms,"seeJulioA.Gonzalo,TheIntelligibleUniverse
(2008)

ItwasEinsteinwhohadintroducedalmostalltherevolutionaryideasunderlyingquantumtheory,andwhosawfirstwhattheseideasmeant.HisultimaterejectionofquantumtheorywasakintoDr.Frankensteinsshunningofthemonsterhehadoriginally
createdforthebettermentofmankind.HadEinsteinnotdoneso,inalllikelihoodhewouldbeseenasthefatherofthemoderntheory.
A.DouglasStone,EinsteinandtheQuantum:TheQuestoftheValiantSwabian(2013),Introduction:AHundredTimesMoreThanRelativityTheory

Theonemanwhowas,duringthelastyears,certainlybyfarEinstein'sbestfriend,andinsomewaysstrangelyresembledhimmost,wasKurtGdel,Thegreatlogician.TheywereverydifferentinalmosteverypersonalwayEinstein
gregarious,happy,fulloflaughterandcommonsense,andGdelextremelysolemn,veryserious,quitesolitary,anddistrustfulofcommonsenseasameansofarrivingatthetruth.Buttheysharedafundamentalquality:bothwentdirectlyand
wholeheartedlytothequestionsattheverycenterofthings.
ErnstG.Strauss,inreminiscencesof1982,asquotedin"Gdel'sLifeandWork",bySolomonFeferman,inKurtGdel:CollectedWorks,VolumeI:Publications19291936(1986),p.2

IlikequotingEinstein.Knowwhy?Becausenobodydarescontradictyou.
StudsTerkel,asquotedin"VoiceofAmerica"inTheGuardian(1March2002)(http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4365429,00.html)

Einsteinexplainedhistheorytomeeveryday,andonmyarrivalIwasfullyconvincedthatheunderstoodit.
AttributedtoChaimWeizmann,afteralongtransAtlanticjourneySimpson'sContemporaryQuotations(6822)creditsNigelCalder,Einstein'sUniverse(1979)aslightlydifferentversionappearsinDavidBodanis,E=mc,whichcreditsCarl
Seelig,AlbertEinstein:ADocumentaryBiography(1956),pp.8081

Einstein'stheoryofrelativityhasadvancedourideasofthestructureofthecosmosastepfurther.ItisasifawallwhichseparatedusfromTruthhascollapsed.Widerexpansesandgreaterdepthsarenowexposedtothesearchingeyeofknowledge,
regionsofwhichwehadnotevenapresentiment.Ithasbroughtusmuchnearertograspingtheplanthatunderliesallphysicalhappening.
HermannWeyl,SpaceTimeMatter(1922)

Hisworkrevolvedaroundthreeruleswhichapplytoallscience,ourproblems,andtimes:

1.Outofclutter,findsimplicity
2.Fromdiscordmakeharmonyandfinally
3.Inthemiddleofdifficultyliesopportunity.

JohnArchibaldWheeler,interviewedinCosmicSearch,Vol.1,No.4(http://www.bigear.org/vol1no4/wheeler.htm)(Fall1979(http://books.google.com/books?id=4IMgAQAAIAAJ&q=%22out+of+clutter%22#search_anchor)).Thethree
principlesaresometimesattributedtoEinsteinhimself,butnosourcecanbefoundshowingthatEinsteinstatedthem,andWheelerdidn'tindicateintheinterviewwhetherhewasquotingsomethingEinsteinhadtoldhimorgivinghisowndescriptionof
howEinsteinworked.

Aclearpatternemerges...helatchesontosomeperceivedfundamentalweaknessorcontradictioninexistingphysicaltheoryandworriesoveritforlongperiodsoftimeaslongasittakes.Heisconcernednottoexploitexistingideasbutto
transcendthem.Thisrestlessstyleisnotnecessarilyarecipeforsuccess.Einsteindidnotplayacreativeroleinthedevelopmentofphysicsafter1925...ThebasicdifficultywasthatEinsteinbelievedhesawdifficultiesinthebasicfoundationsof
quantumtheoryandthat,characteristically,hewishedtooverhaulthetheoryratherthantoexploitit.Whilehiscolleagueswereapplyingquantumtheorywithgreatsuccesstoelucidatetheworkingsofatoms,nuclei,andbulkmatter,Einsteinheldaloof.
FrankWilczek&BetsyDevine,LongingfortheHarmonies:ThemesandVariationsfromModernPhysics(1987)

Mostscientistsarehappiestwhentheyaremakingclearprogress,solvingsomeperhapssmallbutwelldefinedandsignificantproblemsbycleveradaptationsofknowntechniques.Mostpeopleperhapsallfeelacutelyanxiousandunhappywhen
theyare"gropinginthedark"orfindthemselvespoiseduneasilyupon"nofirmfoundation."Wemustadmirethecourageofthoserareindividualswho,likeEinstein,systematicallyseekoutsuchsituations.
FrankWilczek&BetsyDevine,LongingfortheHarmonies:ThemesandVariationsfromModernPhysics(1987)

Itisquiteeasytoincludeaweightforemptyspaceintheequationsofgravity.Einsteindidsoin1917,introducingwhatcametobeknownasthecosmologicalconstantintohisequations.Hismotivationwastoconstructastaticmodeloftheuniverse.To
achievethis,hehadtointroduceanegativemassdensityforemptyspace,whichjustcanceledtheaveragepositivedensityduetomatter.Withzerototaldensity,gravitationalforcescanbeinstaticequilibrium.Hubble'ssubsequentdiscoveryofthe
expansionoftheuniverse,ofcourse,madeEinstein'sstaticmodeluniverseobsolete....Thefactisthattothisdaywedonotunderstandinadeepwaywhythevacuumdoesn'tweigh,or(tosaythesamethinginanotherway)whythecosmological
constantvanishes,or(tosayitinyetanotherway)whyEinstein'sgreatestblunderwasamistake.
FrankWilczek&BetsyDevine,LongingfortheHarmonies:ThemesandVariationsfromModernPhysics(1987)

Externallinks
OfficialEinsteinwebsite(http://einstein.biz/)
EinsteinattheAmericanInstituteofPhysics(http://www.aip.org/history/einstein/index.html)
EinsteinattheAmericanMuseumofNaturalHistory(http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/einstein/index.php)
NOVA:EinsteinRevealedatPBS(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/einstein/)
TheNobelPrizeinPhysics1921(http://www.nobel.se/physics/laureates/1921/press.html)AlbertEinstein(http://www.nobel.se/physics/laureates/1921/index.html)

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 35/36
28/06/2015 AlbertEinsteinWikiquote
ProfileattheUniversityofStAndrews,Scotland(http://wwwgap.dcs.stand.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Einstein.html)
EinsteinonScienceandReligion(http://www.einsteinandreligion.com/index.html)
JuergenSchmidhuber'sEinsteinbiographicalhighlights(http://www.idsia.ch/~juergen/einstein.html)
Einstein'slettertoRoosevelt(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/truman/psources/ps_einstein.html)
FBIfiles(http://vault.fbi.gov/Albert%20Einstein)
Einsteinfamilypictures(http://www.th.physik.unifrankfurt.de/~jr/physpiceinfam.html)
Einstein'swife:MilevaMaric(http://www.pbs.org/opb/einsteinswife/)
AlbertEinsteinBiographyfrom"GermanAmericancorner:HistoryandHeritage"(http://www.germanheritage.com/biographies/atol/einstein.html)
OfficialEinsteinArchivesOnline:3000documents(http://www.alberteinstein.info/)
EinsteinTimeline(http://www.alberteinstein.info/finding_aid/)
AlbertEinsteinArchiveattheUniversityofJerusalem(http://www.alberteinstein.org/)
EinsteinPapersProjectatCaltech(CaliforniaInstituteofTechology)(http://www.einstein.caltech.edu/)
LivingEinsteinattheMaxPlanckInstitute(http://livingeinstein.mpiwgberlin.mpg.de/living_einstein)
AlbertEinsteinOnline(http://www.westegg.com/einstein/)acomprehensivelistingofonlineresourcesaboutEinstein.
Audioexcerptsoffamousspeeches:e=mc2&relativity(http://www.time.com/time/time100/poc/audio/einstein1.ram),Impossibilityofatomicenergy(http://www.time.com/time/time100/poc/audio/einstein2.ram),armsrace
(http://www.time.com/time/time100/poc/audio/einstein3.ram)(FromTimemagazinearchives)
AlbertEinstein:TheWorldasIseeit(http://lib.ru/FILOSOF/EJNSHTEJN/theworld_engl.txt).
AlbertEinstein:WhySocialism?(http://www.monthlyreview.org/598einst.htm)
Theoryofrelativityin4letterwordsorshorter(http://www.muppetlabs.com/~breadbox/txt/al.html)
EinsteinandReligion(1999)byMaxJammer(http://www.pupress.princeton.edu/chapters/s6681.pdf)(PDFdocument)
"Childishsuperstition:Einstein'slettermakesviewofreligionrelativelyclear"inTheGuardian(13May2008)(http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/may/12/peopleinscience.religion)

Authoritycontrol:PND:118529579(http://dnb.info/gnd/118529579)|LCCN:n/79/22889(http://lccn.loc.gov/n/79/22889)|VIAF:75121530(http://viaf.org/viaf/75121530)|BNF:cb119016075(http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb119016075)|NLA:36582360
(http://nla.gov.au/anbd.autan36582360)|ULAN:500240971(http://www.getty.edu/vow/ULANFullDisplay?find=&role=&nation=&subjectid=500240971)|SELIBR:184709(http://libris.kb.se/auth/184709)|WorldCat(http://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccnn7922889)

Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=Albert_Einstein&oldid=1963727"

Categories: Germans Americans Humanists Jews Refugees NobelPrizewinners Agnostics Cosmologists Mathematicians Pacifists Physicists Scientists 1950sdeaths

Thispagewaslastmodifiedon27June2015,at00:42.
TextisavailableundertheCreativeCommonsAttributionShareAlikeLicenseadditionaltermsmayapply.Byusingthissite,youagreetotheTermsofUseandPrivacyPolicy.

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein 36/36