Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

Quotes

• Although I have been prevented by outward circumstances from observing a strictly vegetarian diet, I have long been an adherent to the cause in principle. Besides agreeing with the aims of vegetarianism for aesthetic and moral reasons, it is my view that a vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind.

• Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods.

• 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.

• The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.

• Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.

• Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy.

• I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.

• If someone can enjoy marching to music in rank and file, I can feel only contempt for him; he has received his large brain by mistake, a spinal cord would have been enough.

• Perfection of means and confusion of ends seems to characterize our age.

• Science can only ascertain what is, but not what should be, and outside of its domain value judgements of all kinds remain necessary.

• As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.

• Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish.

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

• I never think of the future - it comes soon enough.

• If I had only known, I would have been a locksmith.

• The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.

• You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.

• Imagination is more important than knowledge...

• The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.

• The important thing is not to stop questioning.