The human side of a genius
Albert Einstein was one of the greatest scientists lived in 20th century. He made lasting contribution in physics, politics, society and towards understanding human nature. He was also an avid commentator and his insights were far and wide on a range of topics. The popularity of his quotes is illustrated by the recent publication of The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, volume 15. Several quotable gems have been mined from Einstein’s archives. But it turns out that many quotes are misattributed to Einstein and some are edited or paraphrased to sharpen for lasting impression. The most famous quote is of course, “God does not play dice” referring to quantum entanglement of physical reality. But it isn’t quite his words. It derives from a letter written in December 1926 to his friend physicist Max Born. His actual words were; Theirs is: “Quantum mechanics…... delivers much but does not really bring us any closer to the secret of the Old One. I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not play dice.” Einstein does not use the word ‘God’ here, but ‘the Old One’ signifies a “personification of creating entity.”
Einstein has used the word god in many other quotes when he was not talking of physical reality and laws of physics. Einstein dismissed the idea of God as the product of human weakness and the Bible as "pretty childish." His letter was written to Eric Gutkind in January 1954. He added, "the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions." But he also said: "I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil. My God created laws that take care of that. His universe is not ruled by wishful thinking, but by immutable laws."
Einstein had lot to say about raising anti-Semitism in his native Germany. He expresses his disappointment and frustration the way it was practiced at elementary schools by children and how it impacted Jewish life in Western Europe.
Einstein had developed keen interest in the works of many of his contemporaries which included Mahatma Gandhi, poets, philosophers, politicians and entertainers of his days. A passage in a 1936 article in the Journal of the Franklin Institute, he said that: “The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility … The fact that it is comprehensible is a miracle.” This has been used widely in media after paraphrasing the quote. It is not surprising that Einstein who stubbornly believed that quantum reality doesn’t exist, believed that the universe is understandable. Most quantum physicists would disagree with that since many issues of spacetime and quantum gravity is unresolved. Throughout his life he had constant battle with quantum physicists on principles and scientific matter. This is reflected in his letter to physicist Max Born (April 12, 1949); “I lack influence [at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University], as I am generally regarded as a sort of petrified object, rendered blind and deaf by the years. I find this role not too distasteful, as it corresponds fairly well with my temperament.” In another quote he is known to have said that “My word counts for little in Fine Hall (at Princeton)”
Nazi’s tried to eliminate him for years as he was an embarrassment for the Fuhrer and the Third Reich. Right up to his death in 1955, he was targeted for deportation as a Soviet agent by FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.
The Author has done extensive work on the Einstein Archives at the Institute for Advanced Study, and this is an authentic work and very well written. Highly recommended.
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