A THREAD on thought provoking ideas and insights by Albert Einstein:
1/
The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.
1/
The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives.
2/
It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure.
It would be possible to describe everything scientifically, but it would make no sense; it would be without meaning, as if you described a Beethoven symphony as a variation of wave pressure.
3/
Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.
Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.
4/
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
5/
Imagination is the highest form of research.
Imagination is the highest form of research.
6/
You have to learn the rules of the game.
And then you have to play better than anyone else.
You have to learn the rules of the game.
And then you have to play better than anyone else.
7/
It is nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry.
It is nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry.
8/
Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed.
Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed.
9/
Although I am a typical loner in my daily life, my awareness of belonging to the invisible community of those who strive for truth, beauty, and justice has prevented me from feelings of isolation.
Although I am a typical loner in my daily life, my awareness of belonging to the invisible community of those who strive for truth, beauty, and justice has prevented me from feelings of isolation.
10/
At least once a day, allow yourself the freedom to think and dream for yourself.
At least once a day, allow yourself the freedom to think and dream for yourself.
11/
The human spirit must prevail over technology.
The human spirit must prevail over technology.
12/
Learning is experience. Everything else is just information.
Learning is experience. Everything else is just information.
13/
Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.
Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.
14/
I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
15/
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.
16/
Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn't, pays it.
Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it. He who doesn't, pays it.
17/
The only sure way to avoid making mistakes is to have no new ideas.
The only sure way to avoid making mistakes is to have no new ideas.
18/
How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will.
How I wish that somewhere there existed an island for those who are wise and of good will.
19/
The true value of a human being can be found in the degree to which he has attained liberation from the self.
The true value of a human being can be found in the degree to which he has attained liberation from the self.
20/
A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?
A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?
21/
Everybody is a genius.
But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.
Everybody is a genius.
But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.
22/
If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies.... It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it.
If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies.... It would be a sad situation if the wrapper were better than the meat wrapped inside it.
23/
Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.
Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.
24/
The bigotry of the nonbeliever is for me nearly as funny as the bigotry of the believer.
The bigotry of the nonbeliever is for me nearly as funny as the bigotry of the believer.
25/
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
26/
There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.
There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle.
27/
I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.
I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.
28/
Any fool can know. The point is to understand.
Any fool can know. The point is to understand.
29/
It is not that I'm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.
It is not that I'm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.
30/
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Curiosity has its own reason for existence.
One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality...
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Curiosity has its own reason for existence.
One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality...
...It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day.
31/
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 feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind...
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 feeling 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.
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.
32/
If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.
If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.
33/
If there is any religion that could respond to the needs of modern science, it would be Buddhism.
If there is any religion that could respond to the needs of modern science, it would be Buddhism.
34/
The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking.
It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.
The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking.
It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.
35/
The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.
The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.
36/
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
37/
Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.
Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.
38/
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 any talent for abstract, positive thinking.
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 any talent for abstract, positive thinking.
39/
The human mind, no matter how highly trained, cannot grasp the universe.
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.
The human mind, no matter how highly trained, cannot grasp the universe.
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.
40/
One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike -- and yet it is the most precious thing we have.
One thing I have learned in a long life: that all our science, measured against reality, is primitive and childlike -- and yet it is the most precious thing we have.
41/
My passionate sense of social justice and social responsibility has always contrasted oddly with my pronounced lack of need for direct contact with other human beings and human communities.
I am truly a 'lone traveler' and have never belonged...
My passionate sense of social justice and social responsibility has always contrasted oddly with my pronounced lack of need for direct contact with other human beings and human communities.
I am truly a 'lone traveler' and have never belonged...
... to my country, my home, my friends, or even my immediate family, with my whole heart; in the face of all these ties, I have never lost a sense of distance and a need for solitude.
42/
Somebody who only reads newspapers and at best books of contemporary authors looks 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.
Somebody who only reads newspapers and at best books of contemporary authors looks 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.
43/
Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury - to me these have always been contemptible.
I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best for both the body and the mind.
Possessions, outward success, publicity, luxury - to me these have always been contemptible.
I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best for both the body and the mind.
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