Albert Einstein Memorable Quotations

Mozart's music is so pure and beautiful that I see it as a reflection of the inner beauty of the universe.

True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the creative artist.

A happy man is too satisfied with the present to dwell too much on the future.

Work is the only thing that gives substance to life.

The aim (of education) must be the training of independently acting and thinking individuals who, however, see in the service to the community their highest life problem.

I have not eaten enough of the tree of knowledge, though in my profession I am obligated to feed on it regularly.

The more success the quantum theory has, the sillier it looks

A man must learn to understand the motives of human beings, their illusions, and their sufferings.

It is abhorrent to me when a fine intelligence is paired with an unsavory character.

I am also convinced that one gains the purest joy from spirited things only when they are not tied in with earning one's livelihood.

With fame I become more and more stupid, which of course is a very common phenomenon.

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

I am content in my later years. I have kept my good humor and take neither myself nor the next person seriously.

A scientist is a mimosa when he himself has made a mistake, and a roaring lion when he discovers a mistake of others.

The most precious things in life are not those you get for money.

One should not pursue goals that are easily achieved. One must develop an instinct for what one can just barely achieve through one’s greatest efforts.

It is important to foster individuality, for only the individual can produce the new ideas.

Children don’t heed the life experiences of their parents, and nations ignore history. Bad lessons always have to be learned anew.

We must recognize what in our accepted tradition is damaging to our fate and dignity-and shape our lives accordingly.

I very rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express in words afterwards.

The only way to escape the corruptible effect of praise is to go on working.

Truly novel inventions emerge only in one's youth. Later one becomes ever more experienced, famous-and foolish.

...behind all the discernible laws and connections, there remains something subtle, intangible and inexplicable.

I do not like to state an opinion on a matter unless I know the precise facts.

I think we have to safeguard ourselves against people who are a menace to others, quite apart from what may have motivated their deeds.

Belief in an external world independent of the perceiving subject is the basis of all natural science.

But nature did not deem it her business to make the discovery of her laws easy for us.

The scientific theorist is not to be envied. For Nature, or more precisely experiment, is an exorable and not very friendly judge of his work. It never says "yes" to a theory. In the most favorable cases it says "Maybe," and in the great majority of cases simply "No." If an experiment agrees with a theory it means for the latter "Maybe," and if it does not agree it means "No." Probably every theory will some day experience its "No" - most theories, soon after conception.

It is true that the grasping of truth is not possible without empirical basis. However, the deeper we penetrate and the more extensive and embracing our theories become the less empirical knowledge is needed to determine those theories.

In one's youth every person and every event appear to be unique. With age one becomes much more aware that similar events recur. Later on, one is less often delighted or surprised, but also less disappointed than in earlier years.

Fear or stupidity has always been the basis of most human actions.

I have firmly decided to bite the dust with a minimum of medical assistance when my time comes, and up to then to sin to my wicked heart's content.

...and knowledge is one of the finest attributes of man - though often it is most loudly voiced by those who strive for it the least.

I have remained a simple fellow who asks nothing of the world; only my youth is gone - the enchanting youth that forever walks on air.

God gave me the stubbornness of a mule and a fairly keen scent.

Mysticism is in fact the only criticism people cannot level against my theory.

It is not so important where one settles down. The best thing is to follow your instincts without too much reflection.

One must shy away from questionable undertakings, even when they bear a high-sounding name.

Good acts are like good poems. One may easily get their drift, but they are not rationally understood.

Science will stagnate if it is made to serve practical goals.

What can the schools do to defend democracy? Should they preach a specific political doctrine? I believe they should not. If they are able to teach young people to have a critical mind and a socially oriented attitude, they will have done all that is necessary.