Albert Einstein, The Human Side by Albert Einstein

Author:Albert Einstein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 2013-05-11T04:00:00+00:00

ON 13 November 1950, the minister of a church in Brooklyn, N.Y., wrote to Einstein in Princeton saying, among other things, that some twenty-six years before, as a college student, he had bought an autographed photograph of Einstein that he had cherished ever since. He went on to say that shortly after the rise of Hitler, Einstein had made a statement that the minister had often quoted from his pulpit. He wondered if Einstein would send him the two paragraphs of the statement copied out in Einstein’s own handwriting so that he could reframe the photograph to include them.

Saying that he did not wish to seem like a parasite, he enclosed a check—not in payment, since he knew that one could not buy such a handwritten statement, but as a gift for Einstein to use as he saw fit, and as a token of gratitude. On a separate sheet he copied out the statement he was referring to. Here it is:

“Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came to Germany I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but no, the universities were immediately silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers whose flaming editorials in those days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks. Then I looked to the individual writers who, as literary guides of Germany, had written much and often concerning the place of freedom in modem life; but they, too, were mute.

“Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler’s campaign for suppressing the truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly.”

On 14 November 1950, Einstein replied in English as follows:

I was deeply impressed with the fine and generous way you have approached me in your letter of November 11th. I am, however, a little embarrassed. The wording of the statement you have quoted is not my own. Shortly after Hitler came to power in Germany I had an oral conversation with a newspaper man about these matters. Since then my remarks have been elaborated and exaggerated nearly beyond recognition. I cannot in good conscience write down the statement you sent me as my own.

The matter is all the more embarrassing to me because I, like yourself, am predominantly critical concerning the activities, and especially the political activities, through history of the official clergy. Thus, my former statement, even if reduced to my actual words (which I do not remember in detail) gives a wrong impression of my general attitude.

I am, however, gladly willing to write something else which would suit your purpose, if you give me any indication what it could be.

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