130 Lessons Einstein Has Taught Me About Life

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Personal notes on what Einstein has taught me about life:

1. Venerate the past

A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving…

Thank for the labor of men in the past (dead) and those alive— to receive gratefully, but to give to others gratefully.

2. Think against authority

Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.

3. Retract my past judgements

“It’s convenient with that fellow Einstein, every year he retracts what he wrote the year before.” – (Einstein talking bout himself)

If I learn something that I was wrong in the past; take back what I wrote in the past.

4. Learn how to think

The value of a college education is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think.

Don’t learn facts for the sake of it; learn how to think critically— to question, analyze, and come up with your own conclusions.

5. What theory do you have in life?

Whatever you can observe a thing or not depends on the theory which you use. It is the theory which decides what can be observed.

Whatever theory you have in life; that is how you will observe the world and reality.

If your theory is positive and optimistic— you will see everything that way. Vice-versa for pessimism.

What colored glasses do you see the world with?

6. God

I believe in Spinoza’s God, who reveals himself in the lawful harmony of the world, not in a God who concerns himself with the fate and doings of mankind

God as the universe; and vice versa.

7. Never stop moving

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” – Einstein

Never stop moving in life.

Similar to the saying:

The rolling stone gathers no moss.

8. Don’t think about the future

I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.

9. Freedom of speech

A dictatorship means muzzles all round and consequently stultification (loss of enthusiasm and passion). Science can flourish only in an atmosphere of free speech.

Live in a country where free speech exists— better yet, promote free speech to all countries!

If you live in a country with free speech, cherish it with all your heart; and pursue your passion.

10. What brings us happiness?

Gadgets don’t bring us more happiness:

Why does this magnificent applied science which saves work and makes life easier bring us so little happiness? The simple answer runs: because we have not yet learned to make sensible use of it. In war it serves that we may poison and mutilate each other. In peace it has made our lived hurried and uncertain. Instead of freeing us in great measure from spiritually exhausting labor, it has made men into slaves of machinery, who for the most part complete their monotonous long days work with disgust and must continually tremble for their poor rations (of food).

We have all this great time-saving technology; yet we become slaves to our technology.

Rather, we should make technology our slaves. Spend less time on time-consuming crap, and more time to do artistic, creative things.

It is not enough that you should understand about applied science in order that your work may increase man’s blessings. Concern for the man himself and his fate must always form the chief interest of all technical endeavors. Concern for the great unsolved problems of the organization of labor and the distribution of goods in order that the creations of our mind shall be a blessing and not a curse to mankind. Never forget this in the midst of your diagrams and equations.

To realize that science and technology should help us human beings, be more human.

To use science and technology to empower people and humankind — not technology for the sake of it.

11. Follow your gut

I believe in intuition and inspiration. At times I feel certain I am right while not knowing the reason. When the eclipse of 1919 confirmed my intuition, I was not in least surprised. In fact I would have been astonished had it turned out otherwise. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving brith to evolution. It is strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.

Follow intuition, and inspiration.

Imagination is more important than knowledge — children are the ultimate geniuses.

Imagine more in life. Ask more questions. Daydream, and wonder about the questions of the universe.

12. Unlock your prison gate

Unlock yourself from the prison of your own mind:

Everyone sits int he prison of his own ideas; he must burst it open, and that in his youth, and so try to text his ideas on reality.

13. On isolation

Although I am a typical loner in daily life, my consciousness of belonging to the invisible community of those who strive for truth, beauty, and justice has prevented me from feeling isolated.

You are part of society, of great men and women in history, and connected to the past.

You will never be alone.

14. Live for others

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.

He who lives for himself is truly dead to others.

Another version of Einstein’s quote:

Only a life in the service of others is worth living.

Life is all about being of service, of being useful to other human beings. To bestow more benefits upon others. To help more, empower more, and share more.

Life is not a zero-sum game.

15. Simplicity

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.

Find the optimum simplicity in life. But not too simple.

Also called ‘Einstein’s Razor’ — you use a razor to cut away the superfluous from your life. To cut away the unsimple.

16. Everyday thinking

Anyone and everyone is a scientist— if you think of everyday life:

All of science is nothing more than the refinement of everyday thinking.

Don’t see science as a big and scary thing; but simple.

17. Science and Philosophy

It has often been said, and certainly not without justification, that the man of science is a poor philosopher. Why then should it not be the right thing for the physicist to let the philosopher do the philosophizing?

Science is philosophy; philosophy is science.

The physicist cannot simply surrender to the philosopher the critical contemplation of theoretical foundations; for he himself knows best and feels more surely where the shoe pinches. In looking for an new foundation, he must try to make clear in his own mind just how far the concepts which he uses are justified, and are necessities.

Science can teach us how to do things; but philosophy teaches us why we should (or should not) do certain things.

We need both.

18. We are all the branches of the same tree

All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man’s life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom. It is no mere chance that our older universities developed from clerical schools. Both churches and universities — insofar as they live up to their true function — serve the ennoblement of the individual. They seek to fulfill this great task by spreading moral and cultural understanding, renouncing the use of brute force.

We all belong to the same true of humanity.

Seek to empower the individual.

19. Don’t have lukewarm attitudes in life

Be strong, and valorous in your beliefs:

The standard bearers have grown weak in the defense of their priceless heritage, and the powers of darkness have been strengthened thereby. Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character; it becomes lack of power to act with courage proportionate to danger. All this must lead to the destruction of our intellectual life unless the danger summons up strong personalities able to fill the lukewarm and discouraged with new strength and resolution.

Defend your priceless heritage. Don’t let the powers of darkness grow.

Have a strong attitude and character. Have the courage to act with power.

20. You have a great mind

When you have a great mind and spirit; you will always encounter violent opposition from lesser men:

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

Refuse to bow down blindly to conventional prejudice.

As a courageous person, you should have the courage to express your opinions honestly, openly, without self-censorship.

21. Childlike curiosity for life

People like you and I, though mortal of course like everyone else, do not grow old no matter how long we live. We will always be like curious children, before the great mystery into which we were born.

Re-tap into that child-like sense of curiosity. You will die; but never grow old.

22. Judgement from others

Why is it that nobody understands me, yet everyone likes me?

Also the opposite can be said:

Why is it that everyone understands me, yet nobody likes me?

To sum up, realize that a lot of people will not understand you — and will probably not like you.

Or the idea that you can be of use to people, and they might not appreciate or love you.

23. Why do humans keep killing one another?

Albert Einstein when asked:

“Dr. Einstein, why is it that when the mind of man has stretched so far as to discover the structure of the atom we have been unable to devise the political means to keep the atom from destroying us?”

Einstein responded:

That is simple my friend. It is because politics is more difficult than physics.

24. Change our thoughts and thinking

“The world we have created is a product of our thinking; it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

We need to change our thinking to change the world.

25. Avoid humanity’s extinction

Einstein on the atom bomb:

Often in evolutionary processes a species must adapt to new conditions in order to survive. Today the atomic bomb has altered profoundly the nature of the world as we knew it, and the human race consequently finds itself in a new habitat to which it must adapt its thinking.
> In the light of new knowledge, a world authority and an eventual world state are not just desirable in the name of brotherhood, they are necessary for survival. In previous ages a nation’s life and culture could be protected to some extent by the growth of armies in national competition. Today we must abandon competition and secure cooperation. This must be the central fact in all our considerations of international affairs; otherwise we face certain disaster. Past thinking and methods did not prevent world wars. Future thinking must prevent wars.

We need to cooperate. We need to prevent future wars; or all of humanity will die.

Also another quote from Einstein:

I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

26. Gift of fantasy

More science fiction; more exploring; more fantasy:

When I examine myself and my methods of thought I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge.

Gaining knowledge or information is nothing.

Learn how to wonder, to explore ideas, to live in fantasy.

27. Where does intuition come from?

A new idea comes suddenly and in a rather intuitive way. But intuition is nothing but the outcome of earlier intellectual experience.

To follow your gut; to instcintively follow the knowledge you’ve already gained in the past.

28. Never betray your conscience

Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it.

29. On Gandhi

Taken on the whole, I would believe that Gandhi’s views were the most enlightened of all the political men in our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit… not to use violence in fighting for our cause, but by non-participation in what we believe is evil.

To make chance in society via non-violence.

Also to not participate in what we believe is evil.

Action through inaction.

Or another way to think about it: ethics as deciding what not to do in your life— rather than what to do.

You are defined by what you decide not to do in life.

30. Universal love and compassion for all of humanity

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe”, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.

Let us not care just about ourselves, and a few family members and friends.

Widen the circle of compassion for all living beings, and all the earth.

31. Passionately curious

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.

Don’t call yourself smart or dumb. Just curious or not curious.

32. Study the past

Somebody who reads only newspapers and at best books of contemporary authors appears to me like an extremely near-sighted person who scorns eyeglasses. He is completely dependent on the prejudices and fashions of his times, since he never gets to see or hear anything else. And what a person thinks on his own, without being stimulated by the thoughts and experiences of other people, is, similarly, even in the best case rather paltry and monotonous.

Look into the past for wisdom.

33. Don’t be a specialist; be a generalist

It is not enough to teach a man a specialty. Through it he may become a kind of useful machine but not a harmoniously developed personality. It is essential that the student acquire an understanding of and a lively feeling for values. He must acquire a vivid sense of the beautiful and of the morally good. Otherwise he—with his specialized knowledge—more closely resembles a well-trained dog than a harmoniously developed person.

To not be a specialist. To have a harmoniously developed personality. To acquire values, virtue, and morality.

Also, to study sociology and human beings:

He must learn to understand the motives of human beings, their illusions, and their sufferings in order to acquire a proper relationship to individual fellow-men and to the community. These precious things are conveyed to the younger generation through personal contact with those who teach, not—or at least not in the main—through textbooks. It is this that primarily constitutes and preserves culture. This is what I have in mind when I recommend the “humanities” as important, not just dry specialized knowledge in the fields of history and philosophy.

‘Humanities’ as studying humans — not just dry subjects.

34. Think daring thoughts

I think that only daring speculation can lead us further and not accumulation of facts.

Leave fact-accumulation to Google. Let us think daring thoughts— something an algorithm can never do.

35. Infinity

The universe as infinite— time and space shifting, and you’re part of the whole universe:

The strange thing about growing old is that the intimate identification with the here and now is slowly lost; one feels transposed into infinity, more or less alone, no longer in hope or fear, only observing.

No more fear or hope in life— just observing the beauty of life and the universe.

36. Do something

Stand up for your beliefs:

The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.

As Nassim Taleb says:

If you see fraud, and do not call fraud—you are a fraud.

37. Western science

Development of Western Science is based on two great achievements, the invention of the formal logical system (in Euclidean geometry) by the Greek philosophers, and the discovery of the possibility to find out causal relationships by systematic experiment (Renaissance). In my opinion one has not to be astonished that the Chinese sages have not made these steps. The astonishing thing is that these discoveries were made at all.

Formal logic system, and discovery to find causal relationships by experimentation.

38. No fear of death

To think with fear of the end of one’s life is pretty general with human beings. It is one of the means nature uses to conserve the life of the species. Approached rationally, that fear is the most unjustified of all fears, for there is no risk of any accidents to one who is dead or not yet born. In short, the fear is stupid but it cannot be helped.

Dying is the same as not being born— why we afraid of it?

39. How to make a living

“If I would be a young man again and had to decide how to make my living, I would not try to become a scientist or scholar or teacher. I would rather choose to be a plumber or a peddler in the hope to find that modest degree of independence still available under present circumstances.” – Einstein

Don’t be full-time scientist, scholar, or teacher.

Rather, seek a job that allows you fullest degree of freedom.

40. On death

He has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is a stubbornly persistent illusion.

Physics: realize that there is no ‘past, present, or future’.

Death not just a single time continuum. What does it matter how old or young we die?

41. Don’t be an academic

Follow a ‘practical’ profession:

Following a practical profession is a blessing for people of my type. Because the academic career puts a young person in a sort of compulsory situation to produce scientific papers in impressive quantity, a temptation to superficiality arises that only strong characters are able to resist.

Academic career — you need to ‘publish or perish’ — you have no freedom.

42. Never lose a holy curiosity

“The important thing is to never stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, life, and the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery everyday. Never lose a holy curiosity. Don’t stop to marvel.” – Einstein

Be like a kid, saying “WOW…” to everything you see. Never lose a holy curiosity.

43. Be valuable; not successful

Try not to become a man of success. Rather, try to become a man of value.

Be valuable to other humans; not ‘successful’ in showing off.

44. Speak to everyone the same way

I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.

45. Think of the future

Yes, we now have to divide up our time like that, between politics and our equations. But to me our equations are far more important, for politics are only a matter of present concern. A mathematical equation stands forever.

What can you do that will stand forever?

46. Never arrive

I love to travel, but I hate to arrive.

The journey of life is better than the destination.

47. The theory of relativity

Einstein explains the theory of relativity in simple terms:

When a man sits with a pretty girl for an hour, it seems like a minute. But let him sit on a hot stove for a minute and it’s longer than any hour. That’s relativity.

48. How to live a happy life

“If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or objects.” – Einstein

Unhappiness: seeking happiness through admiration of people, or obtaining objects.

Happiness: To achieve a noble goal in life.

49. Visual imagination

“If I can’t picture it, I can’t understand it.” – Einstein

How can we apply this to photography?

50. What is a religious experience?

I said before, the most beautiful and most profound religious emotion that we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. And this mysticality is the power of all true science. If there is any such concept as a God, it is a subtle spirit, not an image of a man that so many have fixed in their minds. In essence, my religion consists of a humble admiration for this illimitable superior spirit that reveals itself in the slight details that we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds.

The sense of rapture and awe.

Experience the sensation of the mystical. Have a humble admiration for the illimitable superior spirit that reveals itself in the slight details that we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble minds.

Or the saying:

God is in the details.

51. Why do men pursue science and art?

One of the strongest motives that lead men to art and science is escape from everyday life with its painful crudeness and hopeless dreariness, from the fetters of one’s own ever-shifting desires. A finely tempered nature longs to escape from the personal life into the world of objective perception and thought. With this negative motive goes a positive one. Man seeks to form for himself a simplified and lucid view of the world, in order to overcome the world of experience by striving to replace it to some extend by this image. Into this image and its formation, he places the center of gravity of his emotional life, in order to attain the peace and serenity that he cannot find within the narrow confines of a swirling personal experience.

We all just want peace and serenity in life. We pursue power, in order to gain control over our lives, and reality.

52. Don’t get confused

The meaning of relativity has been widely misunderstood. Philosophers play with the word, like a child with a doll. Relativity, as I see it, merely denotes that certain physical and mechanical facts, which have been regarded as positive and permanent, are relative with regard to certain other facts in the sphere of physics and mechanics. It does not mean that everything in life is relative and that we have the right to turn the whole world mischievously topsy-turvy.

Avoid certain moral ills; there is certain ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ in life.

53. On music

If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. … I cannot tell if I would have done any creative work of importance in music, but I do know that I get most joy in life out of my violin.

54. Don’t read too much

Creativity is often stunted by too much reading:

Reading after a certain age diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking, just as the man who spends too much time in the theater is tempted to be content with living vicariously instead of living his own life.

Don’t live through books; live your own life.

55. Become a dominant personality

Our time is Gothic in its spirit. Unlike the Renaissance, it is not dominated by a few outstanding personalities. The twentieth century has established the democracy of the intellect. In the republic of art and science there are many men who take an equally important part in the intellectual movements of our age. It is the epoch rather than the individual that is important. There is no one dominant personality like Galileo or Newton. Even in the nineteenth century there were still a few giants who outtopped all others. Today the general level is much higher than ever before in the history of the world, but there are few men whose stature immediately sets them apart from all others.

Be a giant. Set yourself apart as an individual.

56. On American style

In America, more than anywhere else, the individual is lost in the achievements of the many. America is beginning to be the world leader in scientific investigation. American scholarship is both patient and inspiring. The Americans show an unselfish devotion to science, which is the very opposite of the conventional European view of your countrymen. Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves. It is not true that the dollar is an American fetish. The American student is not interested in dollars, not even in success as such, but in his task, the object of the search. It is his painstaking application to the study of the infinitely little and the infinitely large which accounts for his success in astronomy.

Be unselfish in devoting yourself to science and finding the truth.

Not interested in dollars, but in the object of our search; our life task.

57. Imagination is all

I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

58. Don’t make humans standard

But to return to the Jewish question. Other groups and nations cultivate their individual traditions. There is no reason why we should sacrifice ours. Standardization robs life of its spice. To deprive every ethnic group of its special traditions is to convert the world into a huge Ford plant. I believe in standardizing automobiles. I do not believe in standardizing human beings. Standardization is a great peril which threatens American culture.

Standardization robs life of its spice— standardize technology, but not humans.

We need diversity to survive as human species, and culture.

59. Want nothing from nobody

I am happy because I want nothing from anyone. I do not care for money. Decorations, titles, or distinctions mean nothing to me. I do not crave praise. The only thing that gives me pleasure, apart from my work, my violin and my sailboat, is the appreciation of my fellow workers.

60. No credit

I claim credit for nothing. Everything is determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no control.

Don’t claim credit for our own work.

61. On understanding the universe

The problem involved is too vast for our limited minds. May I not reply with a parable? The human mind, no matter how highly trained, cannot grasp the universe. We are in the position of a little child, entering a huge library whose walls are covered to the ceiling with books in many different tongues. The child knows that someone must have written those books. It does not know who or how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books, a mysterious order, which it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of the human mind, even the greatest and most cultured, toward God. We see a universe marvelously arranged, obeying certain laws, but we understand the laws only dimly. Our limited minds cannot grasp the mysterious force that sways the constellations. I am fascinated by Spinoza’s Pantheism. I admire even more his contributions to modern thought. Spinoza is the greatest of modern philosophers, because he is the first philosopher who deals with the soul and the body as one, not as two separate things.

Pantheism: identifies God with the universe; and the universe being God. Not God as being a being.

And Spinoza says: the human body and soul are one (not separate).

62. Attain proficiency in your own work

Every man knows that in his work he does best and accomplishes most when he has attained a proficiency that enables him to work intuitively. That is, there are things which we come to know so well that we do not know how we know them. So it seems to me in matters of principle. Perhaps we live best and do things best when we are not too conscious of how and why we do them.

Have faith in your own work, but build your skills.

63. Rules on living

I have only two rules which I regard as principles of conduct. The first is: Have no rules. The second is: Be independent of the opinion of others.

Have no rules in your life; and don’t care about the opinions of others.

64. Pleasure and pain

Everything that men do or think concerns the satisfaction of the needs they feel or the escape from pain. This must be kept in mind when we seek to understand spiritual or intellectual movements and the way in which they develop. For feelings and longings are the motive forces of all human striving and productivity—however nobly these latter may display themselves to us.

Do we live, just bring to escape from pain?

Or we are productive— in order to feel something?

65. Daily life

How strange are us mortals! Each of us is here for a brief time. What purpose are we here for? Sometimes we think we sense it.

I am strongly drawn to the simple life and am often oppressed by the feeling that I am engrossing an unnecessary amount of the labor of my fellow-men. I regard class differences as contrary to justice and in the last resort, based on force. I also consider that plain living is good for everyone— physically and mentally.

Live a simple life.

66. Don’t just live a life for ease and happiness:

I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves. This is the ideal of pigs. The ideals that have lighted my way have been kindness, beauty, and truth. Without the sense of kinship with fellow like-minded men, without the occupation with the objective world, the eternally unattainable in the field of art and scientific endeavors — life would have seemed empty to me.

The life of pigs: To seek a life of ease and happiness.

The life of humans: To seek kindness (to all of humans), beauty, and truth.

We need kinship with fellow man — or else life will be empty.

The trite objects of human efforts— possessions, outward success, luxury— have always seemed to me contemptible.

Disregard trite things in our lives— like owning stuff (expensive luxury goods), having ‘success’ in the outward sense, and luxury — a matter of contempt.

67. The beauty of mystery of life

The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.

Pursue mystery, even when mixed with fear.

Feel wonderment, amazement in life — or else we are good as dead, like a snuffed-out candle.

Pursue mystery of universe, even when we fear it.

68. Why waste your effort in life?

We are just struggling to eat— but some of us are struggling to obtain more, expensive, worldly goods:

The efforts of most human-beings are consumed in the struggle for their daily bread, but most of those who are, either through fortune or some special gift, relieved of this struggle are largely absorbed in further improving their worldly lot.

It is false that the end of happiness in life is to just have the most toys:

Beneath the effort directed toward the accumulation of worldly goods lies all too frequently the illusion that this is the most substantial and desirable end to be achieved; but there is, fortunately, a minority composed of those who recognize early in their lives that the most beautiful and satisfying experiences open to humankind are not derived from the outside, but are bound up with the development of the individual’s own feeling, thinking and acting.

Rather, true happiness: the most beautiful and satisfying experience as humans is not from the outside world, but building up our own faculties of feeling, thinking, and acting.

69. Poetry of logical ideas

Pure mathematics is, the poetry of logical ideas. One seeks the most general ideas of operation which will bring together in simple, logical, and unified form the largest possible circle of formal relationships. In this effort toward logical beauty spiritual formulas are discovered necessary for the deeper penetration into the laws of nature.

Pure math = poetry.

70. What is enlightenment?

Liberate yourself from your own selfish desires— and don’t care about the values of the external world:

A person who is religiously enlightened appears to me to be one who has, to the best of his ability, liberated himself from the fetters of his selfish desires and is preoccupied with thoughts, feelings, and aspirations to which he clings because of their superpersonal value. It seems to me that what is important is the force of this superpersonal content and the depth of the conviction concerning its overpowering meaningfulness, regardless of whether any attempt is made to unite this content with a divine Being, for otherwise it would not be possible to count Buddha and Spinoza as religious personalities.

To have overwhelmingly meaningful purpose in life— to do work to empower other humans.

To be religious: to know your significance, and the significance of helping other humans:

Accordingly, a religious person is devout in the sense that he has no doubt of the significance and loftiness of those superpersonal objects and goals which neither require nor are capable of rational foundation. They exist with the same necessity and matter-of-factness as he himself. In this sense religion is the age-old endeavor of mankind to become clearly and completely conscious of these values and goals and constantly to strengthen and extend their effect. If one conceives of religion and science according to these definitions then a conflict between them appears impossible. For science can only ascertain what is, but not what should be, and outside of its domain value judgments of all kinds remain necessary.

Don’t take the Bible verbatim (word for word):

A conflict arises when a religious community insists on the absolute truthfulness of all statements recorded in the Bible. This means an intervention on the part of religion into the sphere of science; this is where the struggle of the Church against the doctrines of Galileo and Darwin belongs. On the other hand, representatives of science have often made an attempt to arrive at fundamental judgments with respect to values and ends on the basis of scientific method, and in this way have set themselves in opposition to religion. These conflicts have all sprung from fatal errors.

Bible as symbolism. Still can learn a lot of important moral lessons from Bible.

71. Religion needs science; science needs religion

Even though the realms of religion and science in themselves are clearly marked off from each other, nevertheless there exist between the two strong reciprocal relationships and dependencies. Though religion may be that which determines the goal, it has, nevertheless, learned from science, in the broadest sense, what means will contribute to the attainment of the goals it has set up. But science can only be created by those who are thoroughly imbued with the aspiration toward truth and understanding. This source of feeling, however, springs from the sphere of religion. To this there also belongs the faith in the possibility that the regulations valid for the world of existence are rational, that is, comprehensible to reason. I cannot conceive of a genuine scientist without that profound faith. The situation may be expressed by an image: science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.

Science without religion is crippled; religion without science is blind.

We need religion to guide the ethics of science. We need science to reveal more truth about the world and reality.

72. God is created in man’s image

Though I have asserted above that in truth a legitimate conflict between religion and science cannot exist, I must nevertheless qualify this assertion once again on an essential point, with reference to the actual content of historical religions. This qualification has to do with the concept of God. During the youthful period of mankind’s spiritual evolution human fantasy created gods in man’s own image, who, by the operations of their will were supposed to determine, or at any rate to influence, the phenomenal world. Man sought to alter the disposition of these gods in his own favor by means of magic and prayer. The idea of God in the religions taught at present is a sublimation of that old concept of the gods. Its anthropomorphic character is shown, for instance, by the fact that men appeal to the Divine Being in prayers and plead for the fulfillment of their wishes.

Why do we see God as a man?

73. What is the goal of religion?

If it is one of the goals of religion to liberate mankind as far as possible from the bondage of egocentric cravings, desires, and fears, scientific reasoning can aid religion in yet another sense. Although it is true that it is the goal of science to discover rules which permit the association and foretelling of facts, this is not its only aim. It also seeks to reduce the connections discovered to the smallest possible number of mutually independent conceptual elements.

Liberate mankind from bondage of stupid desires, fears, and cravings.

Science can also help liberate us from the vain.

74. Art of living

The great moral teachers of humanity were artistic geniuses in the art of living.

Teach morality, virtue, to fellow human beings.

Art of living — the ultimate art.

75. No competition

Why we all kill each other—over religion?

While religion prescribes brotherly love in the relations among the individuals and groups, the actual spectacle more resembles a battlefield than an orchestra. Everywhere, in economic as well as in political life, the guiding principle is one of ruthless striving for success at the expense of one’s fellow men. This competitive spirit prevails even in school and, destroying all feelings of human fraternity and cooperation, conceives of achievement not as derived from the love for productive and thoughtful work, but as springing from personal ambition and fear of rejection.

Economics, life, business— NOT a zero-sum game. Meaning, no winners and losers. We can expand the pie for everyone.

No competition. No winning and losing.

Practical assignment: don’t play any games where there is a ‘winner’ or ‘loser’ (aka, almost all games)

Competitive spirit: breaks sense of fraternity and fellowship with fellow humans. We cooperate less, because we want to win.

76. Early sense of wonderment

A wonder of such nature I experienced as a child of 4 or 5 years, when my father showed me a compass. That this needle behaved in such a determined way did not at all fit into the nature of events, which could find a place in the unconscious world of concepts (effect connected with direct “touch”). I can still remember—or at least believe I can remember—that this experience made a deep and lasting impression upon me.

There are deeper mysteries in universe:

Something deeply hidden had to be behind things. What man sees before him from infancy causes no reaction of this kind; he is not surprised over the falling of bodies, concerning wind and rain, nor concerning the moon or about the fact that the moon does not fall down, nor concerning the differences between living and non-living matter.

Why does a compass work? How does gravity work? Why does the moon not fall out of the sky? Where does wind and rain come from? What is the difference between organic and inorganic matter?

77. Modern school kills curiosity in children

It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wreck and ruin without fail. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty.

Nurture our ‘holy curiosity of inquiry’ — and in our kids.

Give children, like little plants, need of freedom!

78. Simplicity

A theory is more impressive when it is simpler.

79. What is the meaning of human life?

What is the meaning of human life, or of organic life altogether? To answer this question at all implies a religion. Is there any sense then, you ask, in putting it? I answer, the man who regards his own life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unfortunate but almost disqualified for life.

To me: the meaning of human life is to empower other humans, reduce suffering of other humans, and to create our own art— to uplift our spirits to the heavens.

80. We are all connected to other humans

When we survey our lives and endeavors we soon observe that almost the whole of our actions and desires are bound up with the existence of other human beings.

We need to learn to live in harmony with other humans. We are social animals:

We see that our whole nature resembles that of the social animals. We eat food that others have grown, wear clothes that others have made, live in houses that others have built.

History, knowledge, information — all built on backs of the masters from the past:

The greater part of our knowledge and beliefs has been communicated to us by other people through the medium of a language which others have created. Without language our mental capacities would be poor indeed, comparable to those of the higher animals; we have, therefore, to admit that we owe our principal advantage over the beasts to the fact of living in human society.

No individual can survive without collective efforts of society in the past.

We couldn’t communicate our thoughts and beliefs without invention of language.

Without language, we would have no mental capacities.

To be human (versus other animal): to have control of thought, via language.

The individual, if left alone from birth would remain primitive and beast-like in his thoughts and feelings to a degree that we can hardly conceive. The individual is what he is and has the significance that he has not so much in virtue of his individuality, but rather as a member of a great human society, which directs his material and spiritual existence from the cradle to the grave.

What would a human without language and society be like? Same as beast.

81. How to be valuable in society

A man’s value to the community depends primarily on how far his feelings, thoughts, and actions are directed towards promoting the food of his fellows.

Help others more.

82. Power of one man

You have power, as one person, to create great things:

It is clear that all the valuable things, material, spiritual, and moral, which we receive from society can be traced back through countless generations to certain creative individuals. The use of fire, the cultivation of edible plants, the steam engine — each was discovered by one man.

Great innovation: from one man. A singular person.

Be an individual. think for yourself, create new values for society— and create new moral standards.

You need to be a creative, independent-thinker. Learn to judge, with love.

Learn to work toward ‘upward development of society’ — you need to think. Build your individual personality, in order to ‘nourish the soil of the community.’

The health of society depends on the independence of individuals.

The health of society depends on your independence, and your work.

83. On wealth

I am absolutely convinced that no wealth in the world can help humanity forward, even in the hands of the most devoted worker in this cause. The example of great and pure characters is the only thing that can produce fine ideas and noble deeds. Money only appeals to selfishness and always tempts its owners irresistibly to abuse it.

For me, I can help humanity by writing, sharing ideas, making videos. More money will not help society.

Create fine ideas, and embark on ‘noble deeds.’

84. The cult of the individual

America, as praising the individual.

The cult of individual personalities is always, in my view, unjustified. To be sure, nature distributes her gifts variously among her children. But there are plenty of the well-endowed ones too, thank God, and I am firmly convinced that most of them live quiet, unregarded lives. It strikes me as unfair, and even in bad taste, to select a few of them for boundless admiration, attributing superhuman powers of mind and character to them.

Don’t just worship a few heroes; know all humans have inner-greatness.

The people of America must realize that they have a great responsibility in the sphere of international politics. The part of passive spectator is unworthy of this country and is bound in the end to lead to disaster all round.

We have a great responsibility. Don’t be a passive spectator!

85. Fuck bureaucracy

Bureaucracy is the death of all sound work.

86. Moral teachings

If one purges the Judaism of the Prophets and Christianity as Jesus Christ taught it of all subsequent additions, especially those of the priests, one is left with a teaching which is capable of curing all the social ills of humanity.

Let us seek to cure all the social ills of humanity.

It is the duty of every man of good will to strive steadfastly in his own little world to make this teaching of pure humanity a living force, so far as he can. If he makes an honest attempt in this direction without being crushed and trampled under foot by his contemporaries, he may consider himself and the community to which he belongs lucky.

Our duty: to strive in my little world, to share a teaching of pure love, and humanity.

87. What is our knowledge?

What does a fish know about the water in which he swims all his life?

Do we actually have insight about reality, or society in which we live in?

Or are we just fishes, swimming in the vast ocean, without any conscious thought or wisdom?

88. Open communication

Open-source information, open, free to all — to benefit all of humanity:

This freedom of communication is indispensable for the development and extension of scientific knowledge, a consideration of much practical import. In the first instance it must be guaranteed by law. But laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man may present his views without penalty there must be a spirit of tolerance in the entire population. Such an ideal of external liberty can never be fully attained but must be sought unremittingly if scientific thought, and philosophical and creative thinking in general, are to be advanced as far as possible.

89. Solitude

I believe that solitude is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity.

Love solitude.

90. Help others without fear

Hail to the man who went through life always helping others, knowing no fear, and to whom aggressiveness and resentment are alien. This is the stuff of which the great moral leaders are made.

Don’t be afraid to help others. No pettiness, aggressiveness, competition, and resentment.

Pure love.

Another translation:

“I salute the man who is going through life always helpful, knowing no fear, and to whom aggressiveness and resentment are alien. Such is the stuff of which the great moral leaders are made who proffer consolation to mankind in their self-created miseries.” – Einstein

91. Power and wisdom don’t mix

If we seek power, it is like trying to mix water with oil. They don’t mix:

The attempt to combine wisdom and power has only rarely been successful, and then only for a short while.

No power seeking — I will become tyrant.

92. Do you have your own opinion?

Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions that differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.

Have the courage to express your own freedom of speech, of your own opinion.

Don’t just follow the flock. Don’t be a lemming, falling off the cliff to your death.

93. Joy in looking

The greatest joy of photographer: to look at the world with wonderment, and appreciation:

Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.

94. What do you do when you have it all?

Live freely. Admire, ask, observe, and study art and science:

Where the world ceases to be the scene of our personal hopes and wishes, where we face it as free beings admiring, asking, observing, there we enter the realm of Art and Science. If what is seen and experienced is portrayed in the language of logic, we are engaged in science. If it is communicated through forms whose connections are not accessible to the conscious mind but are recognized intuitively as meaningful, then we are engaged in art. Common to both is love and devotion to that which transcends personal concerns and volition.

To be human: to seek art and science, to understand, to devote ourselves to something that is beyond ourselves.

95. Body and soul

Body and soul are one.

Body and soul are not two different things, but only two different ways of perceiving the same thing. Similarly, physics and psychology are only different attempts to link our experiences together by way of systematic thought.

We perceive the world differently via our bodies, and our soul.

96. Ethics

We will not live forever. But human rules, morals, and ethics/virtue will live forever:

I do not believe in immortality of the individual, and I consider ethics to be an exclusively human concern with no superhuman authority behind it.

97. What is the purpose of the universe?

I have never imputed to Nature a purpose or a goal, or anything that could be understood as anthropomorphic. What I see in Nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly, and that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of “humility.” This is a genuinely religious feeling that has nothing to do with mysticism.

Nature doesn’t have a goal like humans. Rather, we should be humble, and know there are things we will never understand as tiny ants.

Imagine trying to explain to an ant how the internet works. We are the ant.

98. We learn wisdom from self-study

Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.

99. Ambition to love others more

Nothing truly valuable arises from ambition or from a mere sense of duty; it stems rather from love and devotion towards men.

Be ambitious not to become richer, but to help more people.

100. Always be young

Something there is that can refresh and revivify older people: joy in the activities of the younger generation—a joy, to be sure, that is clouded by dark forebodings in these unsettled times. And yet, as always, the springtime sun brings forth new life, and we may rejoice because of this new life and contribute to its unfolding; and Mozart remains as beautiful and tender as he always was and always will be. There is, after all, something eternal that lies beyond reach of the hand of fate and of all human delusions. And such eternals lie closer to an older person than to a younger one oscillating between fear and hope. For us, there remains the privilege of experiencing beauty and truth in their purest forms.

Older people: spend more time with younger. Younger people — spend more time with older people.

101. Strive to be virtuous

The most important human endeavor is the striving for morality in our actions. Our inner balance and even our very existence depend on it. Only morality in our actions can give beauty and dignity to life. To make this a living force and bring it to clear consciousness is perhaps the foremost task of education. The foundation of morality should not be made dependent on myth nor tied to any authority lest doubt about the myth or about the legitimacy of the authority imperil the foundation of sound judgment and action.

Live a morally-right life, via the right actions.

Have dignity and respect for all human beings.

102. Life advice

Life advice from Einstein:

  • Read no newspapers
  • Try to find a few friends who think like you
  • Read the wonderful writers of earlier times (Kant, Goethe, Lessing) and the classics of other lands
  • Enjoy the natural beautifies of the world
  • While you’re living, always play ‘make believe’
  • Pretend living on Earth is like living on Mars among alien creatures.
  • Have no interest in what other aliens (on earth) are doing.
  • Make friends with a few animals.
  • You will be a cheerful man, and nothing will trouble you.

Summed up, disregard the external world. Find joy and happiness in the work you do, the few friends you have, and always live in a child-like state of curiosity.

Don’t let other humans disrupt your inner-zen and tranquility/peace.

103. Enjoy the purity of your own atmosphere

Bear in mind that those who are finer and nobler are always alone — and necessarily so — and that because of this they can enjoy the purity of their own atmosphere.

Create your own ideal environment for yourself (mental/physical).

104. Throw away bad ideas

The most important tool of the theoretical physicist is his wastebasket.

105. Avoid big data

More data doesn’t mean more knowledge or wisdom:

Who would have thought around 1900 that in fifty years time we would know so much more and understand so much less.

Less information = more wisdom

106. Don’t send your kids to a boring school

School failed me, and I failed the school. It bored me. The teachers behaved like Feldwebel (sergeants). I wanted to learn what I wanted to know, but they wanted me to learn for the exam.

School trains kids to be good test-takers; not inquisitive human beings.

Schools make kids competitive. Idea: send kid to Montessori//or make my own Montessori school?

What I hated most was the competitive system there, and especially sports. Because of this, I wasn’t worth anything, and several times they suggested I leave. This was a Catholic School in Munich. I felt that my thirst for knowledge was being strangled by my teachers; grades were their only measurement.

Don’t let teachers strangle you— to beat your inner-curiosity (by only caring about grades).

How can a teacher understand youth with such a system? . . . from the age of twelve I began to suspect authority and distrust teachers. I learned mostly at home, first from my uncle and then from a student who came to eat with us once a week.

Self-directed learning, via internet. Via Wikipedia/YouTube/Google/Internet Archive/Project Gutenberg/etc:

He would give me books on physics and astronomy. The more I read, the more puzzled I was by the order of the universe and the disorder of the human mind, by the scientists who didn’t agree on the how, the when, or the why of creation. Then one day this student brought me Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason. Reading Kant, I began to suspect everything I was taught. I no longer believed in the known God of the Bible, but rather in the mysterious God expressed in nature.

Make your own school of learning.

107. Freedom from senses

We have higher mathematics, haven’t we? This gives me freedom from my senses. The language of mathematics is even more inborn and universal than the language of music; a mathematical formula is crystal clear and independent of all sense organs. I therefore built a mathematical laboratory, set myself in it as if I were sitting in a car, and moved along with a beam of light.

Uplift you soul from mere sensory perception (in terms of vision, feeling, touching, smell, hearing, etc).

You can build your own lab in your own mind.

108. Best way to annoy a poet: explain his poetry to him (Nassim Taleb)

“Since others have explained my theory, I can no longer understand it myself.” – Einstein

109. Science will never be finished:

Devote life to using the most of my brain, and mind:

Science is never finished because the human mind only uses a small portion of its capacity, and man’s exploration of his world is also limited. If we look at this tree outside whose roots search beneath the pavement for water, or a flower which sends its sweet smell to the pollinating bees, or even our own selves and the inner forces that drive us to act, we can see that we all dance to a mysterious tune, and the piper who plays this melody from an inscrutable distance—whatever name we give him—Creative Force, or God—escapes all book knowledge.

Never stop learning/exploring/being curious.

110. Have a boring job

Boring job, to deduce theories of universe:

“What do you think of Spinoza? For me he is the ideal example of the cosmic man. He worked as an obscure diamond cutter, disdaining fame and a place at the table of the great. He tells us the importance of understanding our emotions and suggests what causes them. Man will never be free until he is able to direct his emotions to think clearly. Only then can he control his environment and preserve his energy for creative work.” – Einstein

Spinoza’s job was making lenses, and disdained fame. He philosophized in his free time.

How can you control your environment, and preserve your mind for creative work?

Idea: do minimum possible mental work at your 9-5 job, and devote the rest of your mental idea on thinking, being creative, making art.

111. Mind \> Emotions

What a betrayal of man’s dignity. He uses the highest gift, his mind, only ten percent, and his emotions and instincts ninety percent.

Don’t let my instincts and emotions rule me.

Focus on mind.

112. Cosmic life

I believe that I have cosmic religious feelings. I never could grasp how one could satisfy these feelings by praying to limited objects. The tree outside is life, a statue is dead. The whole of nature is life, and life, as I observe it, rejects a God resembling man. I like to experience the universe as one harmonious whole. Every cell has life. Matter, too, has life; it is energy solidified. Our bodies are like prisons, and I look forward to be free, but I don’t speculate on what will happen to me. I live here now, and my responsibility is in this world now. . . . I deal with natural laws. This is my work here on earth.

Even in-organic material has energy, and ‘life’.

113. What is a genuine scientist?

Not moved by praise, blame, and doesn’t preach:

The genuine scientist is not moved by praise or blame, nor does he preach. He unveils the universe and people come eagerly, without being pushed, to behold a new revelation: the order, the harmony, the magnificence of creation! And as man becomes conscious of the stupendous laws that govern the universe in perfect harmony, he begins to realize how small he is. He sees the pettiness of human existence, with its ambitions and intrigues, its ‘I am better than thou’ creed. This is the beginning of cosmic religion within him; fellowship and human service become his moral code. And without such moral foundations, we are hopelessly doomed.

Realize how small we are; and how petty human existence is.

My religion: fellowship of all of humanity, and dedicating my life to serving other humans.

114. Live life for others

I believe in one thing— that only a life lived for others is a life worth living.

A life living for others is worth living.

A life living for (only) yourself is not worth living.

My idea: Live selfishly for myself, in order to be more beneficial to living for others.

‘Virtuous selfishness’

115. Be an idealist

Change society with better moral codes, ideals, and virtues:

If we want to improve the world we cannot do it with scientific knowledge but with ideals. Confucius, Buddha, Jesus and Gandhi have done more for humanity than science has done. We must begin with the heart of man—with his conscience—and the values of conscience can only be manifested by selfless service to mankind.

Focus on ‘selfless service to mankind.’

116. Don’t worry about life after death

I believe that we don’t need to worry about what happens after we die, as long as we do our duty here— to love and serve others.

Purpose of life: to love and serve others.

117. A reasoning mind

I have faith in the universe, for it is rational. Law underlies each happening. And I have faith in my purpose here on earth. I have faith in my intuition, the language of my conscience, but I have no faith in speculation about Heaven and Hell. I’m concerned with this time—here and now.

  • Trust the universe; it is rational
  • Stay focused on your purpose on earth
  • Trust your intuition
  • Trust the language of your conscience
  • Don’t think about heaven or hell.
  • Concern yourself with this time— here and now.

118. Interpret meaning

Philosophy is empty if it isn’t based on science. Science discovers, philosophy interprets.

How to interpret science, to benefit humankind?

119. My eternity is now

Don’t think of life after death:

I do not need any promise of eternity to be happy. My eternity is now. I have only one interest: to fulfill my purpose here where I am. This purpose is not given me by my parents or my surroundings. It is induced by some unknown factors. These factors make me a part of eternity.

Focus my entire life: to fulfill my life purpose (on Earth, now).

120. Einstein religion

My religion is based on Moses: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. And for me God is the First Cause. David and the prophets knew that there could be no love without justice or justice without love. I don’t need any other religious trappings.

Love God, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Don’t do unto others as you don’t want others to do unto you.

121. Our task

I believe the main task of the spirit is to free man from his ego.

Selfless, no ego.

122. You can’t prove what you believe in

Just believe in yourself:

Certainly there are things worth believing. I believe in the brotherhood of man and in personal originality. But if you asked me to prove what I believe, I couldn’t. You can spend your whole life trying to prove what you believe; you may hunt for reasons, but it will all be in vain. Yet our beliefs are like our existence; they are facts. If you don’t yet know what to believe in, then try to learn what you feel and desire.

What do you believe in?

Me: I believe in open-source information/photography.

123. Make leaps ahead by following your intuition

Build knowledge, but when you advance, follow your gut— to make big leaps forward:

“The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness, call it intuition or what you will, and the solution comes to you and you do not know how or why. All great discoveries are made in this way.” – Einstein

Build foundational knowledge:

“It’s not as simple as that. Knowledge is necessary, too. An intuitive child couldn’t accomplish anything without some knowledge. There will come a point in everyone’s life, however, where only intuition can make the leap ahead, without ever knowing precisely how. One can never know why, but one must accept intuition as a fact.” – Einstein

Take a leap of faith to innovate.

124. Never stop questioning

Don’t ask why you are curious, or why you ask questions. Just keep asking the questions about life:

Don’t think about why you question, simply don’t stop questioning. Don’t worry about what you can’t answer, and don’t try to explain what you can’t know. Curiosity is its own reason. Aren’t you in awe when you contemplate the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure behind reality? And this is the miracle of the human mind—to use its constructions, concepts, and formulas as tools to explain what man sees, feels and touches. Try to comprehend a little more each day. Have holy curiosity.

Curiosity as an end in itself.

Try to understand a little more everyday — have that ‘holy curiosity.’

125. Practical tips

‘Be a loner. That gives you time to wonder, to search for the truth. Have holy curiosity. Make your life worth living.’ – Einstein

More time to wonder, ask questions, and seek truth. Make a meaningful life.

126. Get more out of life, by giving more

Try not to become a man of success, but a man of value. Look around at how people want to get more out of life than they put in. A man of value will give more than he receives. Be creative, but make sure that what you create is not a curse for mankind.

Man of value: give more than you receive.

Keep giving more. Be kind.

Create things which are useful and valuable to others.

127. Don’t be a bigot

The bigotry of the nonbeliever is for me nearly as funny as the bigotry of the believer.

128. Jesus was Jewish

A Catholic student asks Einstein to pray to Jesus, Virgin Mary, and convert to Christianity. Einstein then said:

“If I would follow your advice and Jesus could perceive it, he, as a Jewish teacher, surely would not approve of such behavior.”

129. Dogs will bark at you

Ignore the barking of dogs:

I was barked at by numerous dogs who are earning their food guarding ignorance and superstition for the benefit of those who profit from it. Then there are the fanatical atheists whose intolerance is of the same kind as the intolerance of the religious fanatics and comes from the same source.

Don’t be a fanatical atheist— same as fanatical religious zealots.

Have universal love for all — regardless if they are religious, or not.

Don’t be a slave:

They are like slaves who are still feeling the weight of their chains which they have thrown off after hard struggle. They are creatures who—in their grudge against the traditional “opium for the people”—cannot bear the music of the spheres. The Wonder of nature does not become smaller because one cannot measure it by the standards of human moral and human aims.

130. How did God make the world?

I want to know how God created this world. I’m not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts, the rest are details.

Why does the universe exist?

Conclusion

To sum up what I have learned from Einstein:

  1. Stay curious for your entire life
  2. Reject authority
  3. The purpose of life: to be useful to other human beings, and to uplift all of humanity, and to prevent humans from killing one another.

Or summed up:

Stay hungry; stay foolish – Steve Jobs

Be strong,
Eric


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