Albert Einstein

Concepts are simply empty when they stop being firmly linked to experiences. They resemble upstarts who are ashamed of their origins and want to disown them." The letter was published in the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, vol 10, doc 66, pp 323-324 (CPAE Translation, vol 10, doc 66, p 201). Slightly uneven toning, a few spots in upper margin, two-hole punch at left margin, folding creases..

do it the way you did. But this is less simple, less natural." He goes on to assert that "[t]he naturalness of the field of structure envisaged by me seems indisputable to me. I will only know in a few months whether this construction contains deeper traits of reality; for the problems needed to be solved to make this decision are not at all easy." The letter ends with a postscript in Einstein's hand, inviting Reichenbach and his wife to tea, noting "Schrödinger is supposed to come as well.".

[…]“ 
11 September 1951: "I have read your letter […] and have looked at your drawings, but I cannot judge them either in a positive or a negative sense. The fact that currents can act on muscles is well known. However, whether you can achieve a health-promoting effect in the way you have suggested, I have no judgment. […]" 

Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics "for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect", a pivotal step in the development of quantum theory..

Selig Brodetzky (1888-1954) was second president of the Hebrew University during a turbulent period, marked by the forced abandonment of the campus on Mount Scopus and disputes with the University Senate..

I believe that transnationally minded intellectuals can only serve the good cause effectively by advocating negotiation, understanding and transnational solution of the security problem, but not by engaging in such propaganda ventures as the present one. I find that the Quacker organization [sic!] and the Indian government have served the supranational interests best so far. I think that one should first and foremost stick to the old medical motto: 'Non nocere.'" In fine condition, with some chipping along the edges. Hadamard published an open letter to Einstein in March 1952, accusing the Americans of developing biological weapons for use during the Korean War. Einstein responded privately on March 26, 1952, writing in a letter that has since been published: 'I am really the last person who would excuse these abominable weapons, whether they are atomic bombs or biological means of destruction.' Einstein went on to urge constructive supranational security action. Hadamard evidently asked to publish the letter, which Einstein here declines. A fascinating piece of correspondence between leading intellectuals on the topic of international peace..

This is infinitely more difficult for specialized professionals than for workers in industry and the trades. The services of the American Committee are now needed more than ever before. Many of the professionals who arrived here during the last few years under the Displaced persons Act first gladly accepted low-level jobs if no others were available. They hoped that within a reasonable time they would get a start in their own fields. Unfortunately, all too many are still in their first low level jobs and have become increasingly hopeless. Additional professionals will soon arrive among the 214000 immigrants authorized by the Act recently passed by Congress with the strong support of President Eisenhower. Both the newcomers and those among the earlier arrivals not yet placed have to depend on the American Committee lest their skills are to be lost for our country. I therefore feel strongly that the American Committee should be given the continuing support of understanding American citizens and institutions […] May I express the personal hope that you will be able to contribute to the success of this important endeavor? […]“.

So verhält es sich im Besonderen auch mit den Begriffen Bewegung, Raum, Zeit. Die Relativitätstheorie ist jene physikalische Theorie, die auf einer konsequenten physikalischen Interpretation dieser drei Begriffe beruht. Der Name ‘Relativitätstheorie’ hängt damit zusammen, dass Bewegung vom Standpunkt der Erfahrbarkeit stets als relative Bewegung eines Dinges gegen andere (z. B. eines Wagens gegenüber dem Erdboden, oder der Erde gegenüber der Sonne und den Fixsternen) auftritt (Bewegung ist aber nicht wahrnehmbar als ‘Bewegung gegen den Raum’ oder – wie man es auch ausgedrückt hat – als ‘absolute Bewegung’). Das ‘Relativitätsprinzip’ im weitesten Sinne ist in der Aussage enthalten: Die Gesamtheit der physikalischen Phänomene ist so beschaffen, dass sie für die Aufstellung des Begriffes ‘absolute Bewegung’ keinen Anhalt bietet, oder kürzer aber weniger präzis: Es gibt keine absolute Bewegung [...]". – Traces of a paperclip with a slight rustmark to the first leaf..

Lotte Marx ist in dem Buch „Journey of Hope and Despair: Volume I. Rise and Fall" von Rudolf Hugo Moos erwähnt. Moos arbeitet darin die Geschichte seines Großvaters Rudolf Moos (1866-1951) war ein Cousin zweiten Grades von Albert Einstein. Als Unternehmer entwickelte er die Marken Salamander, Puma und Fasan. Bis 1933 war Albert Einstein mit seiner zweiten Ehefrau Elsa gern gesehener Gast in der Villa der Familie Moos in Nowawes in der Nähe von Potsdam. Einstein war es auch, der Moos, der jüdischer Herkunft war, und seiner Familie 1939 die Ausreise aus Deutschland ermöglichte. Lotte Marx war in der Villa in Potsdam zu Gast. Erwähnt ist sie anlässlich des 62. Geburtstags im November 1929: „[...] Many friends and relatives sent me greetings and best wishes, and we had a large dinner party in the evening. Our guests included Fritz Heinrichsdorff, Karl and Adele Heinrichsdorff, Helene Einstein, Helene Steiner, and Lotte Marx. We had a stimulating conversation, and then, as always, there was time for dancing. […] Helene Steiner visited us in November 1931 and told us about her niece, Lotte Marx. She had been having an extended affair with the son of Fritz Stahl, the wellknown composer, and she was now living with him. [...]" Am 28. Juni 1929 verlieh die Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft Max Planck und Einstein die Max-Planck-Medaille. Genau 50 Jahre zuvor hatte Planck als 21-Jähriger in München seine Doktorwürde erhalten. Auf dem Weg zum Physikalischen Institut musste Einstein an fast 1.000 grölenden nationalsozialistischen Studenten vorbei. Diesen Tag hatten Regierung und Reichspräsident zum „Tag der Trauer" ausgerufen: Zehn Jahre zuvor hatten die Deutschen Unterhändler in Versailles den Friedensvertrag unterzeichnet. Vor dem zunehmenden Antisemitismus flüchtete Einstein in die USA. Seit den 1930er Jahren war Albert Einstein weltweit bekannt. Wo er auftrat, wo er sprach, waren die Menschen begeistert. Im Dezember 1932 führte ihn eine Reise in die USA, von der er nach der Machtübernahme des NS-Regimes nicht mehr zurückkehrte. 1933 folgte der Austritt aus der Akademie der Wissenschaften und der Berliner Universität als Reaktion auf die Machtergreifung der Nationalsozialisten. Im Oktober 1940 nahm er die amerikanische Staatsbürgerschaft an. Eine Anekdote am Rande: Als Einstein 1931 während einer USA-Reise an der Premiere von Charlie Chaplin bei einer Filmpremiere von „Lichter der Großstadt" traf, soll es zu folgendem Dialog gekommen sein: Albert Einstein soll gesagt haben, „was ich an Ihrer Kunst am meisten bewundere, ist ihre Universalität. Sie sagen kein Wort, aber die ganze Welt versteht Sie!“ Worauf Chaplin erwidert haben soll: „Stimmt. Aber Ihre Kunst ist noch größer! Die ganze Welt bewundert Sie, auch wenn keiner ein Wort davon versteht, was Sie sagen.".

He continued to appear at La Scala through the 1929 season. In the spring and summer of 1929, Toscanini took the whole Scala company to Vienna and Berlin, where public, critics and professional musicians reacted with admiration to performances of six operas by Donizetti, Verdi, and Puccini. In Vienna they performed „Falstaff“ and „Lucia di Lammermoor“, in Berlin they performed „Falstaff“, „Il Trovatore“, Puccini’s „Manon Lescaut“, „Aida“ at the Staatsoper. At the Städtische Oper Unter den Linden they performed „Rigoletto“, „Lucia di Lammermoor“, which was partly radio broadcasted. Arturo Toscanini was strongly opposed to German and Italian fascism and left Europe for the United States in the mid-1930s. Albert Einstein left Germany for the United States in 1933. Einstein would later release a statement about Toscanini on the presentation of the American Hebrew Medal to him in 1938: “Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason, mastery demands the whole person. Toscanini demonstrates this in every manifestation of his life.” In December 1930, Albert Einstein and Arturo Toscanini met backstage in New York, an article of the New York Times reports: “CERTAIN RELATIVITIES | Einstein and Toscanini Meet Backstage and Afford Demonstrations of Famous Theory | IT will be one week ago this afternoon that Albert Einstein listened to Arturo Toscanini's performance of Beethoven's "Pas total" symphony in the Metropolitan Opera House, applauded that performance warmly, then hastened backstage to talk with a master mind of music about the art that both men love. Mr. Einstein had reason to applaud, especial reason, since nothing illustrated more triumphantly than Toscanini’s performance the fundamental principle of the theory of relativity and its applicability to art as well as physics. Relativity in the realm of physics is, of course, one thing; relativity in the domain of art another. But in both fields a basic principle obtains, which destroys the possibility of fixed standards of measurement and teaches us that the universe itself is a thing of relative and not absolute, irrefragable values. The reviews of the Toscanini interpretation of the “Pastoral” symphony offered a good case in point. All the reviews were emphatic of the superlative qualities of the performance. The only question on which certain reviewers expressed differences of opinion was whether Toscanini’s superlative treatment of the symphony coincided precisely with the thought of Beethoven. [...]” The scientist repeatedly praised the musician, also in personal letters, for his attitude towards the Nazis and his support for Jews. In 1936 he wrote to the “Verehrten Maestro!”: “You are not just an unparalleled interpreter of universal musical literature […] You have also proven that you are a man of great dignity in the fight against the fascist criminals [...] The fact that a contemporary like you exists dispels many of the disappointments that on is continually subjected to [...]” With the help both of Einstein and Toscanini, celebrated Polish violinist Bronisław Huberman (1882-1947) saved some of the world's greatest musicians from the Nazis. They managed to help almost 1,000 musicians escape to Palestine. Together with them, he founded the Palestine Symphony Orchestra, which today enjoys worldwide fame as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Acquired from a German private collection..

In fine condition, with a light central vertical fold, and soiling and handling wear to the covers. Accompanied by a letter of authentication from Viennese Antiquarian Book Dealer Ingo Nebehay, 1982. First edition of this extremely rare offprint, a remarkable association copy. The present paper was the crucial step between Einstein’s Entwurf theory of 1913 and the final form of general relativity which Einstein completed in November 1915: it develops the mathematical techniques necessary for the final formulation, namely the ‘absolute differential calculus’ of Tullio Levi-Civita, as well as the expression of the field equations in terms of a variational principle, which later proved to be of great importance. This author’s presentation offprint, with "Überreicht vom Verfasser" printed on upper wrapper, must not to be confused with the much more common trade offprint which lacks this printed statement (see below). We have located only one copy of this author’s presentation offprint at auction, in the collection belonging to Einstein’s son Hans Albert sold at Christie’s in 2006 (there was no copy in Einstein’s own collection of his offprints sold by Christie’s in 2008). "In summer 1914, Einstein felt that the new theory should be presented in a comprehensive review. He also felt that a mathematical derivation of the field equations that would determine them uniquely was still missing. Both tasks are addressed in a long paper, presented in October 1914 to the Prussian Academy for publication in its Sitzungsberichte. It is entitled ‘The formal foundation of the general theory of relativity’; here, for the first time, Einstein gave the new theory of relativity the epithet ‘general’ in lieu of the more cautious 'generalized' that he had used for the Entwurf" (Landmark Writings in Western Mathematics 1640-1940). "In the year that he was called to Berlin, on October 29, 1914, Einstein was able to present his work "Die formale Grundlage der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie"…The "formal foundation" of the general theory of relativity was the tensor calculus. Without the tensor calculus, the general theory of relativity could not have been formulated…By October 1914, Einstein was finally able to present his results in mathematical form, and indeed in a manner that became the basis of his general theory of relativity of 1916. He introduced general covariants, contravariants, and also—what was new—mixed tensors, in order to represent the individual arithmetic operations, above all, the various types of multiplication. Thus the mathematical calculus necessary for the general theory of relativity was at the ready in 1914" (Reich). "The principal novelty [in the present paper] lies in the mathematical formulation of the theory. Drawing on earlier work with [Marcel] Grossman, Einstein formulated his gravitational field equations using a variation principle" (Calaprice, 47). The first important stage in the development of Einstein’s theory of gravitation was accomplished, with his friend and classmate the mathematician Marcel Grossmann, in their 1913 work Entwurf einer verallgemeinerten Relativitätstheorie und einer Theorie der Gravitation. "In this book, Einstein and Grossman investigated curved space and curved time as they relate to a theory of gravity. They presented virtually all the elements of the general theory of relativity with the exception of one striking omission: gravitational field equations that were not generally covariant. Einstein soon reconciled himself to this lack of general covariance through the ‘hole argument,’ which sought to establish that generally covariant gravitational field equations would be physically uninteresting" (Calaprice 40). Einstein’s ‘hole argument’, he believed, implied that general covariance was incompatible with the requirement that the distribution of mass-energy should determine the gravitational field uniquely. He believed, therefore, that the field equations should only be valid in certain coordinate systems, which he called ‘adapted’, and that only coordinate transformations from one adapted system to another adapted system should be allowed – he called these ‘justified coordinate transformations’. "Einstein’s move to Berlin in April 1914 marked the end of his collaboration with Grossmann. Fortunately, by this time Einstein no longer seems to have needed Grossmann’s mathematical guidance. By October 1914, he had completed a lengthy summary article [offered here] on his new theory, whose form and detailed nature suggest that Einstein felt his theory had reached its final form. The article contained a review of the methods of tensor calculus used in the theory and, flexing his newfound mathematical muscles, Einstein could even promise to give new and simpler derivations of the basic laws of the ‘absolute differential calculus’. Of great importance was the fact that Einstein had taken the new mathematical techniques of his last paper with Grossmann, generalized them and found in them a quite new derivation of the field equations" (Norton, p. 293). This new derivation made use, for the first time in Einstein’s work on the theory of gravity, of an action principle (or variational principle). Einstein worked initially with an action that was an arbitrary function of the metric tensor and its first derivatives, and then showed that with a particular choice of the action he could recover the Entwurf field equations. He further believed that he had found a simple general covariance condition which forced the action to take the Entwurf form. "Einstein had good reason to be pleased with this result. For it seemed to show that his theory was not just a theory of gravitation, but a generalized theory of relativity, in so far as it was concerned with establishing the widest covariance possible in its equations. His original derivation of the field equations [in Entwurf] had been based squarely on considerations in gravitation theory…The new derivation, however, focused on covariance considerations. He had found a simple way of formulating field equations that would have exactly the maximum covariance allowed by the ‘hole argument’, and they led him almost directly to his original Entwurf field equations. As a result he could promise to "recover the equations of the gravitational field in a purely-covariant-theoretical way" and claim to "have arrived at quite definite field equations in a purely formal way, i.e., without directly drawing on our physical knowledge of gravitation"… "Einstein appears to have remained satisfied with the theory he developed in 1914 through the first half of 1915. In March, April and early May he defended the theory wholeheartedly in an intense correspondence with Levi-Cività, who challenged Einstein’s derivation of the covariance properties of his gravitation tensor. But it seems that by mid-July he was less certain…By mid-October Einstein’s points of dissatisfaction with his theory had grown in number and intensity. They soon culminated in some of the most agitated and strenuous works of his life, in which generally covariant field equations were discovered…Einstein’s work [in the present paper] had brought him both temporally and conceptually closer than ever before to a generally covariant theory…It is hard to imagine that Einstein was unprepared for the ease with which his formalism of 1914 could be applied to his final generally covariant theory" (Norton, pp. 296-303). After publishing the generally covariant theory in November 1915, Einstein gave a further treatment of the variational formulation (Hamiltonsches Prinzip und allgemeine Relativitätstheorie, Sitzungsberichte (1916), pp. 1111-1116). By this time, the great German mathematician David Hilbert had published his own account of general relativity in terms of a variational principle [Die Grundlagen der Physik (Erste Mitteilung), Nachrichten der Königliche Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen. Mathematisch-physikalische Klasse, November 1915, 395-407]. This led to some controversy over who had been the first to publish the final version of general relativity (although Hilbert himself never claimed priority). "Hilbert, through his important paper of November 1915, is generally thought of as introducing the comprehensive use of these action principles to the theory. My analysis shows that although Einstein might have drawn some of his work of 1916 in this area from Hilbert’s, his basic mathematical apparatus and even the notation itself had its ancestry in his own work earlier in 1914 and 1915" (Norton, p. 303). This author’s presentation offprint is of extreme rarity, and must be distinguished from other so-called ‘offprints’ of papers from the Berlin Sitzungsberichte, many of which are commonly available on the market. The celebrated bookseller Ernst Weil (1919-1981), in the introduction to his Einstein bibliography, wrote: "I have often been asked about the number of those offprints. It seems to be certain that there were few before 1914. They were given only to the author, and mostly ‘Überreicht vom Verfasser’ (Presented by the Author) is printed on the wrapper. Later on, I have no doubt, many more offprints were made, and also sold as such, especially by the Berlin Academy." If the term ‘offprint’ means, as we believe it should, a separate printing of a journal article given (only) to the author for distribution to colleagues, then ‘offprints’ were not commercially available. Although there is certainly some truth in Weil’s remark, in our view it requires clarification and explanation. Until about 1916, most of Einstein’s papers were published in Annalen der Physik; from 1916 until he left Germany for the United States in 1933, most were published in the Berlin Sitzungsberichte. The Sitzungsberichte differed from other journals in which Einstein published in that it made separate printings of its papers commercially available. These separate printings have ‘Sonderabdruck’ printed on the front wrapper, the usual German term for offprint, but they are not offprints according to our definition. They were available to anyone; indeed a price list of these ‘trade offprints’ is printed on the rear wrapper. True author’s presentation offprints can be distinguished from these trade offprints by the presence of ‘Überreicht vom Verfasser’ on the front wrapper. In the period 1916 to 1919 or 1920, the Sitzungsberichte trade offprints are themselves rare: for example, ABPC/RBH list only three ‘offprints’ of Einstein’s famous 1917 Sitzungsberichte paper ‘Kosmologische Betrachtungen zur allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie’ (the auction records do not distinguish between trade and author’s presentation offprints). After 1919 or 1920, however, the trade offprints became much more common, although the author’s presentation offprints are still very rare. The reason for this change is that it was only in 1919 that Einstein became famous among the general public. It might seem obvious that Einstein’s fame dates from 1905, his ‘annus mirabilis’, in which he published his epoch-making papers on special relativity and the light quantum. However, these works did not make him immediately well known even in the physics community – many physicists did not understand or accept his work, and it was two or three years before his genius was fully accepted even by his colleagues. He secured his first academic position, at the University of Bern, in 1908. Among the general public, Einstein became well known only in late 1919, following the success of Eddington’s expedition to observe the bending of light by the Sun, which confirmed Einstein’s general theory of relativity. This was front-page news, and made Einstein universally famous. (See Chapter 16, ‘The suddenly famous Doctor Einstein’, in Pais, Subtle is the Lord, for an account of these events). Before 1919 the trade offprints of Einstein’s papers would probably only have been purchased by professional physicists; after 1919 everyone wanted a memento of the famous Dr. Einstein, whether or not they understood anything of theoretical physics, and the trade offprints of his papers were printed and sold in far greater numbers than before to meet the demand. It is telling that when these post-1919 trade offprints appear on the market, they are often in mint condition – they were never read simply because their owners were unable to understand them. Boni 65; Weil 68. Calaprice, The Einstein Almanac; Norton, ‘How Einstein Found His Field Equations: 1912-1915’, Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences 14 (1984), pp. 253-316; Norton, ‘Einstein and Nordström: some lesser-known thought experiments in gravitation,’ pp. 3-30 in The Attraction of Gravitation: New Studies in the History of General Relativity, edited by John Earman, Michel Janssen, John D. Norton, 1993; Reich, Einstein’s "Formal Foundations of the General Theory of Relativity" (1914) (http://mathineurope.eu/images/information_pic/hist_phil_pic/calendar_pic/2014einstein/Einstein_English.pdf). For the history of tensor calculus, including Einstein’s application of it to general relativity, see Reich, Die Entwicklung des Tensorkalküls, Birkhäuser 2012..

Ich illustriere durch einen Vergleich aus der gewöhnlichen Mechanik. Man kann das Koordinatensystem so wählen, dass in einem bestimmten Augenblick ein Körper, z.B. die Erde in Ruhe ist. Die Bewegung der Erde ist also bedingt durch die Wahl des Bewegungssystems des Koordinatensystems. Man kann aber das Koordinatensystem nicht so wählen, dass relativ zu ihm gleichzeitig sowohl Erde als Mond in Ruhe sind. Durch den Bewegungszustand des mechanischen Koordinatensystems können eben nur solche Bewegungen ,erzeugt’ werden, bei welcher alle Körper dieselbe Geschwindigkeit und Bewegungsrichtung haben. Diese Analogie dürfte den Sachverhalt genügend aufklären. […]“.

Science can only fully fulfill its social mission when what has been painstakingly achieved by experts becomes common knowledge in its essential aspects. This book is a valuable contribution to achieving this goal." In a postscriptum, he added: "Your manuscript is at the desk at the Athenaeum. May I ask you to get it? Thank you." Berl ben Meyr's work, titled "The Story of Microbes Your Germs and Mine," was published in 1934 with a preface by Albert Einstein..

| Science is able to accomplish fully its social function only when the essential facts of its workers’ hard-won achievements become common knowledge. Towards such an aim this work is a fine contribution. […]“ Berl ben Meyr's work, titled "The Story of Microbes Your Germs and Mine," was published in 1934 with a preface by Albert Einstein..

Thirring has published at the University of Vienna.“ „Sie haben augenscheinlich eine von jenen Popularisierungen der Relativitäts-Theorie in die Hand bekommen, die nur ganz äusserlich den Gegenstand streift. Dies entnehme ich daraus, dass Sie glauben, die angeführte Stelle des Romans könnte mit der Theorie etwas zu schaffen haben. Diese aber lässt sich ohne physikalische Vorkenntnisse nicht verstehen. Für den Fall, dass Sie über solche Vorkenntnisse verfügen, empfehle ich Ihnen die Lektüre eines Buches, das Herr Prof. Thirring an der Universität Wien über diesen Gegenstand hat erscheinen lassen. […]“.

One of these was his 1938 article “Why do they hate the Jews?”, which was his only public discussion of Hitler’s campaign against the Jews. "You have done a great translating job and it is factually better than the original. The community that you take interest in seems very likable to me, except for Lindberg [Charles Lindbergh], who hasn't shown much concern for the suffering of human beings. As far as Maderiaga [Salvador de Madariaga] is concerned, I am not quite sure whether he is an honest human being--so I'll have to add a question mark to him as well. . . . I would also accept Andre Gide and Albert Schweitzer as well. Maybe [Ignazio] Silone as well . . . . Is there any Russian out there that seems acceptable and has not been decapitated yet? I know of none, and neither do I know any Scandinavian, Dutch, South American, Spaniard and none from the English Colonies. Just like with Freud; probably only to be used as a one-horse carriage. "Looking at today's humankind, one can only notice with regret that the numbers do not make up for quality: if quantity would substitute for quality we'd be in great shape compared to tiny old Greece. "Finally, I have to express my condolences for your poor wallet since you have sent such a lengthy telegram. I was very touched and will show it to your potential husband to keep him from making the wrong decision; so please keep me informed." In September of 1938, the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company deposited a time capsule at the site of the 1938 New York World's Fair to be opened 5,000 years hence. The capsule contained letters addressed to the future inhabitants of Earth by luminaries of the day, including Thomas Mann, Robert A. Millikan, and Albert Einstein. According to a September 16, 1938 New York Times article, "Einstein Hopeful for Better World," the uncredited but "authorized English translation" of Einstein's letter contained the observation that "people living in different countries kill each other at irregular time intervals, so that . . . any one who thinks about the future must live in fear and terror. This is due to the fact that the intelligence and character of the masses are incomparably lower than the intelligence and character of the few who produce something valuable for the community. I trust that posterity will read these statements with a feeling of proud and justified superiority." It is likely that the translator of Einstein's time capsule letter was Ruth Norden, who was responsible for many of Einstein's English translations at the time, including "Why Do They Hate the Jews," published in Collier's Magazine on November 26, 1938. The work praised in the present lot is probably the very same time capsule letter translation. „Sie haben die Sache prachtvoll übersetzt; es ist faktisch besser als das Original. Die von Ihnen ins Auge gefasste Gemeinschaft gefällt mir recht gut bis auf Lindberg [d.i. Charles Lindbergh], der doch nicht gezeigt hat, dass er für die Leiden der Menschenwelt viel übrig hat. Bei Maderiaga [d.i. Salvador de Madariaga] bin ich nicht sicher, ob er ein ehrlicher Mensch ist; zu ihm muss ich auch ein Fragezeichen setzen. Über mich selbst will ich schweigen oder zu meinen Gunsten anführen, dass mich die andern ja nicht so genau kennen. Ich würde den André Gide doch aufnehmen, ausserdem Albert Schweizer. Vielleicht auch den [Ignazio] Silone, jenen wunderbaren Autor von Brod [!] und Wein. Gibt es vielleicht auch einen passenden noch ungeköpften Russen? Ich weiss keinen, auch keinen Skaninavier, Holländer, Südamerikaner, Spanier, keinen aus Englands Colonialreich. Wie mit Freud; wahrscheinlich nur als Einspänner zu gebrauchen? Schaut man auf die heutige Menschheit, so kann man nur mit Bedauern feststellen, dass die Zahl kein Ersatz für Qualität gewähren kann; sonst wären wir ja glänzend gegenüber dem popligen alten Griechenland. Schliesslich muss ich noch mein Beileid aussprechen für Ihren armen Geldbeutel von wegen des langen Telegramms. Ich war sehr betroffen und werde es Ihrem eventuellen Zukünftigen zeigen, um ihn wenn möglich von einem unüberlegten Schritt abzuhalten; benachrichtigen Sie mich als bitte rechtzeitig. […]“.

Miss Mayer is secretary of the New School of social Research. […]“ - Enclosed is a ALS and the envelope of Clara Mayer to Chaplin. San Francisco. July 6, 1940, 1 p.: „The enclosed letter contains some unadorned facts - of no great interest. If, however, on the basis of Albert Einstein’s introduction you were to grant me the privilege of an interview, my story, I think, would have more than passing interest. I shall reach the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles near the end of next week and telephone your sudios for an answer. Knowing the mass of correspondence that must daily be addressed to you, I have registered this letter as an index of its very great importance to me. […]“.

Also, I should be able to make a modest contribution myself […]“ This letter relates to Mrs. Eugenie Schwarzwald -- a progressive Austrian philanthropist who founded the innovative Schwarzwald school to educate Austrian girls. She was forced to leave Austria due to her Jewish ancestry, where her assets were seized by the Nazis and the Schwarzwald schools were forcibly closed. Edward Cushing began the "Schwarzwald fund" to financially support her after the seizure of her assets, and in conjunction with American journalist Dorothy Thompson, rallied for their intended emigration to America - likely referenced here. (see Deutschsprachige Exiliterature seit 1933, John M. Spalek et al., p. 379)..

Es ist ganz selten, dass ein so wenig vorgebildeter Mensch soviel Verständnis für das Grundproblem der physikalischen Wissenschaft aufbringt. Es scheint mir übrigens, dass Sie den Vergleich der endlichen Welt mit der Kugelfläche nicht richtig aufgefasst haben Es wird nämlich die räumlich dreidimensionale endliche Welt mit der zweidimensionalen Kugelfläche verglichen. Aber dem Raum ausserhalb der Kugelfläche entspricht nichts in der zu illustrierenden, bezw. darzustellenden Welt. Hier hat der Vergleich seine Grenze. - Ausserordentlich überrascht hat es mich, dass Sie gleich den Punkt gesehen haben, wo der nächste Fortschritt einsetzen muss, nämlich die Einheit der Naturkräfte. An diesem Problem arbeite ich seit 13 Jahren und glaube gerade jetzt seine Lösung gefunden zu haben Wenn Ihnen das Herz daran hängt, Mathematik zu studieren, so würde ich mich bemühen, Ihnen den Weg dazu zu ebnen. Ich möchte Sie aber darauf aufmerksam machen, dass dieses Studium sich bei Frauen fast immer rächt, weil ihnen die grosse und beständige geistige Anstrengung meist nicht gut bekommt. Wenn Sie aber unschlüssig sind, so versuchen Sie einmal privatim nben dem Beruf ein geeignetes Werk über Mathematik zu studieren, um sich selbst zu prüfen. Wenn Sie mir den Stand Ihrer diesbezüglichen Bildung mitteilen, so werde ich Ihnen ein geeignetes Werk senden. Ich danke Ihnen freundlichst für Ihre Photographie. […]“.

Unter diesen Umständen halte ich es für richtig, dass Sie sich zunächst einmal ganz selbständig, langsam und geduldig mit dem mathematischen Fundament bekannt machen. Ich werde Ihnen dazu Bücher schicken, die nach meiner Meinung für das Selbststudium gut geeignet sind. Dies geschieht allerdings unter der Voraussetzung, dass Ihnen Ihr Beruf die nötige Muse lässt für ein solches Studium. Sie werden sehen, dass es mit grossem Genuss verbunden ist. Hauptsache: Ganz langsam vorgehn und nie eilen. Immer muss das Gefühl vorherrschen, dass es sich um wahrhaftes Vergnügen handelt. Wenn dieses Gefühl weggeht, dann aufhören.“ Published in: The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, Volume 16, ed. Buchwald (Princeton University Press, 2021), No. 382..

On Einstein's recommendation, Frank became his successor at the German University in Prague in 1912, where he stayed until 1938. „Ich freue mich ausserordentlich, dass Sie nun Gelegenheit haben, das Studium aufzunehmen. Allerdings vermute ich, dass die Lehrkräfte in Bukarest nicht gerade viel taugen werden. Besuchen Sie nie eine Vorlesung, der Sie nicht völlig folgen können. Studieren Sie grossenteils aus Büchern, die Sie selber für geeignet halten.“.

Frank completed his habilitation in 1910 at the University of Vienna and became a lecturer there. On Einstein's recommendation, Frank became his successor at the German University in Prague in 1912, where he stayed until 1938. „Ich halte es für denkbar, dass Sie an der deutschen Universität in Prag studieren könnten. Der dortige theoretische Physiker, Professor Philipp Frank ist ein Freund von mir und ein recht wohlhabender Mann. Er wird sich sicher bemühen, Ihnen die Aufnahme zu ermöglichen, wenn ich ihm schreibe. Letzteres will ich tun, sobald Sie einen diesbezüglichen Wunsch aussprechen. Ich bin überzeugt, dass dies für Sie das Richtige wäre, sowohl vom wissenschaftlichen wie vom praktischen Standpunkt aus.“.

Mein Freund wird sicher bemüht sein, Ihnen zu helfen. In der Hoffnung, dass Ihr Streben von Erfolg sein wird grüsst Sie freundlich […]“.

Collaborating with one or two like-minded individuals is advantageous and helps overcome initial difficulties." „Auch ich wurde als Student durch die viele Weisheit entmutigt, die an der Hochschule schonungslos auf mich niederprasselte. Später erst erkannte ich, dass das Meiste lange nicht so vernünftig war, als es zuerst aussah. Besuchen Sie keine Vorlesung, der Sie nicht bequem folgen können und folgen Sie lieber Ihrer Neigung. Die Hauptsache ist, dass Sie die Elemente der höheren Mathematik und ihre physikalische Anwendung langsam beherrschen lernen. Das Uebrige ergibt sich später. Zusammenarbeit mit ein oder zwei gleichstrebenden Menschen ist vorteilhaft und hilft überanfängliche Schwierigkeiten hinweg. […]“.

However, this is only apparent after struggling with it long enough, fortunately, because where else would one find the courage in youth? Teaching is a lovely thing if one has the talent for it. Often, it only results in discouragement for the young when the teacher lacks sufficient insight and empathy into the psyches of the listeners. Universities are usually bad in this respect. Beware of Reichinstein [i.e., David Reichinstein (1882-1955)], whom you have judged quite well. The strangest thing about him is that he manages to have a strangely good opinion of himself—admirable. If you later study physics, read the introductory books by A. Haas. They are not particularly clean but pedagogically reasonable. The same applies to the older books by Drude [i.e., Paul Drude (1863-1906)]. As a greeting, I am sending you a little book in which I presented the theory of relativity earlier because I believe it is quite readable, and there is a picture of me inside. However, it is a picture from the time of my full strength, while now I am a white-haired old man. Now I wish you a pleasant time and fruitful studies." „Frank schrieb anerkennend über Ihren grossen Eifer, der ihm aufgefallen ist. Man kann viel von ihm lernen, weil er gescheit und klar ist; wissenschaftliche Erfindungskraft ist ihm eben weniger zuteil geworden. Sie müssen lernen, die Menschen im Einzelnen und auch sich selber nicht gar zu ernst zu nehmen. Es lohnt nicht. Das tiefe Eindringen in das Naturgesetz ist so schwierig, dass eine Generation nicht gerade viel fertig bringt. Dies merkt man aber erst, wenn man sich schon lange genug damit geplagt hat - glücklicherweise - denn wo sollte man sonst in der Jugend die Courage hernehmen? Das Lehren ist eine hübsche Sache, wenn man Talent dazu hat. Oft hat es nur die Entmutigung der Jungen zur Folge, wenn der Lehrer in die Psyche der Hörer nicht genug Einblick und Einfühlung hat. Die Universitäten sind meist schlimm in dieser Beziehung. Hüten Sie sich vor dem Reichinstein [d.i. David Reichinstein (1882-1955), den Sie ganz gut beurteilt haben. Das Merkwürdigste an ihm ist, dass er es fertig bringt, eine merkwürdig gute Meinung von sich selber zu haben - beneidenswert. Wenn Sie später Physik studieren, so lesen Sie zur Einführung die Bücher von A. Haas. Sie sind zwar nicht besonders sauber aber pädagogisch vernünftig. Dasselbe gilt auch von den älteren Büchern von Drude [d.i. Paul Drude (1863-1906)]. Ich sende Ihnen zum Gruss ein Büchlein, indem ich die Relativität früher dargestellt habe, weil ich glaube, dass es ziemlich gut zu lesen ist und weil - ein Bild von mir drin ist. es ist aber ein Bild aus der Zeit meiner Vollkraft, während ich jetzt ein weisshaariger Alter bin. Nun wünsche ich Ihnen noch eine schöne Zeit und fruchtbares Studium. […]“ The chemophysicist Reichinstein emigrated to Prague in 1933 and in 1938 to Switzerland; he was acquainted with Einstein. This edition is expanded from the 1932 version to include a chapter on 1933. In 1932, Einstein, frustrated, wrote that "my patience has come to an end" and threatened him: "If you publish this manuscript anywhere and in any way, our relationship is over forever." Reichinstein did not comply with the prohibition and used Einstein's emigration to publish his book in Prague in 1934. Der Chemo-Physiker Reichinstein emigrierte 1933 nach Prag und 1938 in die Schweiz und war mit Einstein bekannt. Gegenüber der Ausgabe von 1932 um das Kapitel über 1933 erweitert. Einstein schrieb 1932 entnervt, dass "meine Gutmütigkeit ein Ende hat", und drohte ihm: "Wenn Sie dieses Manuskript irgendwo und irgendwie veröffentlichen, dann ist es zwischen uns für immer aus." Reichinstein hat sich nicht an das Verbot gehalten und die Emigration Einsteins genutzt, um sein Buch 1934 in Prag erscheinen zu lassen..

Your idea of coming here doesn't seem to me to be advisable, especially since the mentality of the Prague area is probably much closer to you than the local people. It also has fewer difficulties from a financial point of view, and the prospect of finding a job here is not particularly good, even for real Americans. Even if you were here, you would get very little from me, because I don't teach and my time and energy is taken up to the last. I have indeed been somewhat ill in the last few months, but I am now completely recovered and able to work. Nonetheless, one is essentially finished as one approaches sixty. You can then depart with the joyful feeling that you have done your part and found fruitful paths. I am very happy that you are developing so well in Prague and that your tireless efforts have enabled you to overcome the really big obstacles presented by the unfamiliar environment and a disorderly and inadequate education. However, it would bring me particular joy if you were to truly find a like-minded companion. [...] P.S. If you have a scientific question that no one there can answer, I will be happy to provide you with an answer." „Schon lange hätte ich Ihnen geschrieben, wenn ich nicht durch eine unvorstellbare Korrespondenz beständig gehetzt wäre. - Ich habe mich sehr über Ihre erfreuliche Nachricht betreffs Ihrer Geschwister und Ihres geglückten Examens gefreut. Bezüglich des Heiratsantrages von Seiten des von Ihnen genannten Privat-Dozenten kann ich mir kein Urteil erlauben. An und für sich glaube ich, dass es für eine Frau besser ist, wenn sie verheiratet ist. Wenn der Mann kein Jude ist, erscheint eine Verheiratung - besonders unter den heutigen Verhältnissen - riskant, da sich nachträglich leicht Gegensätze herausstellen, die ursprünglich durch den Wunsch nach Verbindung verdeckt werden. Ihre Idee, hierherzukommen, erscheint mir nicht empfehlenswert, zumal Ihnen die Mentalität der Prager Umgebung erheblich näher stehen dürfte als die hiesigen Menschen. Es hat auch vom finanziellen Standpunkt aus weniger Schwierigkeiten und die Aussicht, hier eine Stelle zu finden, ist selbst für waschechte Amerikaner nicht besonders günstig. Selbst wenn Sie hier wären, würden Sie von mir sehr wenig haben, weil ich ja nicht lehre und meine Zeit und Kraft bis aufs letzte in Anspruch genommen ist. - Ich war in den letzten Monaten tatsächlich einigermassen krank, bin aber wieder völlig hergestellt und arbeitsfähig. Immerhin ist man in der Hauptsache fertig, wenn man den Sechzig näherrückt. Man kann dann in dem frohen Gefühl abfahren, dass man das Seine getan und fruchtbare Wege gefunden hat. Ich freue mich sehr darüber, dass sie sich in Prag so schön entwickeln und durch Ihr unermüdliches Streben die wirklich grossen Hindernisse haben überwinden können, welche die fremde Umgebung und eine ungeordnete und mangelhafte Vorbildung Ihnen bereitet haben. Eine besondere Freude aber wäre es mir, wenn Sie wirklich einen gleichstrebenden Gefährten finden würden. […] P.S. Wenn Sie eine wissenschaftliche Frage haben, die Ihnen dort niemand beantworten kann, so werde ich mich freuen, Sie Ihnen zu beantworten.“.

However, with very slowly changing loads, the flowing aspect takes precedence. I believe that the natural transition to liquids is to be sought here. The idea of liquids as easily flowing solid bodies would then suggest the existence of high-frequency transverse waves in liquids but not that they do not deform with sufficiently small deformation limits. So, I see the transition in a very different way than you do: Liquids would be solid bodies where the property of flowing far outweighs that of elastic angular deformation. I don't know if attempts have been made to generate high-frequency transverse waves in liquids, which would make the elasticity properties observable despite the predominant flowing characteristics." „Ich glaube der Grundgedanke ist teilweise richtig. Aber er geht nach meiner Ansicht von einer unrichtigen Auffassung des festen Körpers aus. Wenn Sie nämlich einen solchen deformieren, dann verschwinden die elastischen Spannungs-Kräfte bei gegebener Deformation mehr oder weniger rasch. Bei konstant gegebenen Deformationskräften tritt demgemäss ein mehr oder weniger ausgeprägtes Fliessen auf - unabhängig von dem momentanen Deformationsvorgang. Der Körper verbiegt sich ganz langsam. Denken Sie an festes Pech oder Wachs, aber auch an Blei. Genügend raschen Vorgängen gegenüber verhält sich das Ding ähnlich einem idealen, d.h. nichtfliessenden sondern nur elastischen festen Körper. Bei ganz langsam veränderlichen Belastungen aber tritt das Fliessen in den Vordergrund. Ich glaube nun, dass hier der natürliche Übergang zu den Flüssigkeiten zu suchen ist. Die Auffassung von Flüssigkeiten als leicht fliessende feste Körper würde dann erwarten lassen, dass es in Flüssigkeiten Transversalwellen von sehr hoher Frequenz gebe, aber nicht, dass sie sich bei genügend kleinen Deformationsgrenzen nicht deformieren. Ich sehe also den Übergang in ganz anderer Weise wie Sie: Flüssigkeiten wären feste Körper bei denen die Eigenschaft des Fliessens die der elastischen Angular-Deforation weit überwiegt. Ich weiss nicht ob man schon versucht hat, in Flüssigkeiten Transversalwellen von hoher Frequenz zu erzeugen, die dann die Elastizitätseigenschaften beobachtbar erscheinen liessen trotz der vorwiegenden Fliesseigenschaften. […]“.

Es geht übrigens aus Ihren Mitteilungen nicht klar hervor, ob Sie meinen Brief über die einheitliche Behandlung der Mechanik des festen und flüssigen Zustandes erhalten und verstanden haben. Sollte es nicht der Fall sein, so will ich Ihnen gerne noch einmal darüber schreiben. Es ist zweifellos ein interessantes Arbeitsgebiet für eine Dissertation, selbst in dem Falle, dass die betreffenden Gedanken im Prinzip nicht neu wären. […]“.

Don't let yourself be misled and maintain your impartiality. And if someone laughs at you, go ahead and laugh with them. In your penultimate letter, I wasn't quite sure if you fully understood my hints regarding the transitional zone between solid and liquid. However, when the time is right, I will explain it to you more thoroughly. One would think that people who have dealt with seismic waves have been prompted to similar considerations." „Man ist immer im Irrtum, wenn man glaubt, dass Andere sich erheblich mehr mit einem beschäftigen, denn alle sind fast ausschliesslich mit sich selbst beschäftigt. Ich kenne Professor Franck sehr genau. Er hat viel Sinn für Humor und Sie mögen ihn, bezw. diesen Sinn durch Ihr Verhalten irgendwie in Funktion gebracht haben. Dies hat aber nicht die geringste Bedeutung, zumal er mir immer mit freundlichem Interesse über Sie berichtet hat. Lassen Sie sich nicht irre machen und behalten Sie sich Ihre Unbefangenheit. Und wenn einer über Sie lacht, dann lachen Sie ruhig mit. Ich habe an Ihrem vorletzten Brief nicht genau gesehen, ob Sie meine Andeutungen betreffend des Uebergangsgebietes fest-flüssig völlig verstanden haben. Wenn es aber einmal an der Zeit ist, will ich es Ihnen besser erklären. Man sollte glauben, dass die Leute, welche sich mit den Erdbebenwellen beschäftigt haben, zu ähnlichen Betrachtungen veranlasst wurden. […]“.

Zangger aufzusuchen, der gerichtlicher Mediziner an der Universität und ein Spezialist auf dem Gebiete der Tuberkulose ist. […]“.

Ich hoffe, dass Sie in Ihrer Heimat eine befriedigende Tätigkeit als Lehrerin finden können, denn ich stelle mir vor, dass an Lehrkräften dort ein Mangel sein muss. Mir selbst geht es befriedigend und ich stecke tief in der Arbeit. […]“.

It is, after all, a rich and fertile country, much less threatened than the nations entirely dependent on the export of industrial products. I believe you will agree with me in some time." Ich erhielt Ihren Brief vom 7. April. ich glaube nicht, dass ich Ihnen raten kann, Ihren Vorsatz zur Ausführung zu bringen. Der Lebenskampf hier ist hart und ist eine Ueberproduktion an intellektuellen Arbeitern. Auch muss ich in diesen für unser Volk so schweren Zeiten mein Eingreifen auf solche beschränken, die in ernstlicher Not oder Gefahr sind. Es hat mich überrascht, von Ihnen die Ansicht zu hören, dass die Verhältnisse in Ihrem Lande sich in den nächsten Jahren schwerer gestalten werden. Es ist doch ein reiches und fruchtbares Land, das viel weniger bedroht ist als die Länder, die ganz auf den Export von Industrie-Erzeugnissen angewiesen sind. Ich glaube, Sie werden mir in einiger Zeit selbst recht geben. […]“.

Sie müssen nicht traurig sein darüber, dass Sie sich nicht in Ihrem eigentlichen Fach betätigen können. Das Lehren ist immer befriedigend wenn man an den jungen Menschen Interesse hat. Ich hätte es in jungen Jahren auch gerne getan, konnte aber keine Stelle finden. […]“.

Das hat sich nicht vermeiden lassen, weil dort ein besonderer Tag der Rel[ativitäts]-Theorie gewidment ist. Mitte Mai kann ich aber gut nach Kiel kommen und freue mich schon darauf. Dass bei bewegter Kugelschale durch das Magnetfeld Drehmomente auf die Kugel übertragen werden, ist nicht ganz zu vermeiden, aber der dadurch erzeugte systematische Fehler kann nicht bedeutend sein, wohl nicht grösser als der durch Wasserreibung bedingte. Dagegen wird eben nichts zu machen sein. Wichtig ist, dass der Blasring schön gleichmässig ist, dass bei blosser Drehung um die Vertikale nichts derartiges auftritt. Ich arbeite fest, wurde aber von der physikalischen Muse an der Nase herumgeführt. Hoffentlich kommts besser […]“ Translated: "The kind letter from your wife [Reta Stöve] and also from you has been very comforting, dispelling any prejudice my wife [Elsa Einstein] may have had that you bear ill will towards her or seek to alienate me from her in any way. One must take women as they are and make life as easy for them as possible - if not out of pure good nature, then partly out of good nature and partly out of prudence. You have helped me in a friendly manner towards this end. I will be very happy to return to Kiel, but I must go to the Philosophy Congress in Naples at the beginning of May. This could not be avoided, as a special day dedicated to the Theory of Relativity will be observed there. However, I can come to Kiel in mid-May and look forward to it. The fact that torques are transferred to the ball due to the moving ball shell through the magnetic field cannot be completely avoided, but the systematic error thus generated cannot be significant, probably not greater than that caused by water friction. However, there will be nothing to be done about it. It is important that the bubble ring is evenly formed, so that nothing of the sort occurs with mere rotation around the vertical axis. I am working hard, but have been led astray by the muse of physics. Hopefully, it will improve [...]".

Wie miserabel sie ist, ersieht man daraus, wie Albert in der kurzen Zeit heruntergekommen ist. Nun der gedachte Aufenthalt in Celerina. Wenn zwischen den Familien einigermassen normale Verhältnisse wären, so wäre es ganz selbstverständlich, dass Albert zu dem Schwiegersohn meiner Frau kommen könnte. So aber weiss ich nicht, ob dies ohne Erschütterungen für die schwer kranke Ilse abgehen würde. Ich kann auch dem Schwiegersohn meiner Frau nicht einfach Vorschriften machen. Wenn Albert einen wirklich freundlichen Brief an Herrn Rudolf Kayser schriebe, der mit oben ist, und ihm auch sagte, dass dem Geplagten keine Ausgaben erwachsen sollen, und Albert ohne Frau kommen wollte, so glaube ich, dass er mit aller Freundlichkeit aufgenommen würde. Sei nicht bös, dass ich so wenig schreibe. Mein Leben ist anstrengend und voll Pflichten, sodass das Private immer zu kurz kommt. Aber für Tete möchte ich immer genug Zeit haben. Ich hätte es gern, wenn er Ostern wieder hierher käme wie letztes Jahr. Hoffentlich bist du damit einverstanden. - Was Albert anlangt so hat ihn übrigens auf Zanggers Brief hin zu mir in die Wohnung eingeladen, damit er sich da erhole. Warum soll er gerade nach Celerina? Er ist doch einfach durch Arbeit bei ungenügendem Futter erschöpft. Auf diese Einladung erfolgte keine Antwort. Was denkst Du dazu? Ich dachte mir, dass Alberts Frau das nicht zulassen wird, weil sie von ihrem Standpunkt aus betrachtet nachteilige Beieinflussung befürchtet (mit Recht). Der Junge wird an seinem Fehltritt kaput[t] gehen, fürchte ich. Wir haben aber alles Mögliche gethan um ihn zurückzuhalten. […] Lieber Tete! Nur eine kurze Bemerkung zu unserer Diskussion. Du sträubst Dich gegen eine gefühlsmässige Behandlung der Frage vom Sinn des Lebens. Aber es geht nicht anders. Der Versatand kann immer nur aus Prämissen Folgerungen ableiten nach Regeln über die man sich geeignet hat. Prämissen aber kann der Verstand nicht liefern. Man kann nicht darüber nur einigen im Falle unseres Problems nur unter der Wirkung des intuitiven gefühlmässigen Urteilens, nachdem man die Thatsächlichkeiten möglichst vielseitig auf sich hat wirken lassen. Kommt man dabei zu verschiedenen Prämissen, so ist eine Einigung überhaupt unmöglich. (Aus Seins-Urteilen, bezüglich deren Übereinstimmung zwischen uns herrschen mag, können Wertungs-Urteile nicht abgeleitet werden. Ich kann also Dein Tiger-Ideal nicht logisch widerlegen).“ Translation: „It has never occurred to me to be angry with you or with either of you. On the contrary, I constantly feel guilty for not writing to you more often. My absence last summer was only because I feared I would be a nuisance; I thought you would be more comfortable with your young visitors without me. The only thing is that I find it difficult to maintain a relationship with Albert, and that's only because I am completely averse to getting involved with the daughter-in-law in any way. You can see how miserable she is from how much Albert has deteriorated in such a short time. Now, about the proposed stay in Celerina. If relations between the families were somewhat normal, it would be quite natural for Albert to come to my wife's son-in-law. However, I am not sure if this would go smoothly for the seriously ill Ilse. I cannot simply dictate to my wife's son-in-law. If Albert were to write a truly friendly letter to Mr. Rudolf Kayser, who is mentioned above, and also told him that the afflicted person should not incur any expenses, and if Albert wanted to come alone without his wife, I believe he would be warmly welcomed. Please don't be upset that I write so little. My life is demanding and full of duties, so my private life always comes up short. But I always want to have enough time for Tete. I would like it if he came back here for Easter as he did last year. Hopefully, you agree with that. - As for Albert, he was invited to my apartment after Zangger's letter to me, so he could recuperate there. Why should he go to Celerina? He is simply exhausted from work with insufficient food. There was no response to this invitation. What do you think about that? I thought Albert's wife would not allow it because she fears adverse influence from her standpoint (rightly so). I fear the boy will be ruined by his misstep. However, we have done everything possible to restrain him. [...] Dear Tete! Just a brief comment on our discussion. You resist an emotional treatment of the question of the meaning of life. But it cannot be otherwise. The understanding can only derive conclusions from premises based on rules that have been agreed upon. However, the understanding cannot provide premises. Agreement on this issue can only be reached under the influence of intuitive emotional judgment after considering the facts as comprehensively as possible. If different premises are reached, agreement is impossible. (From judgments of being, regarding which there may be agreement between us, judgments of value cannot be derived. So, I cannot logically refute your Tiger ideal).“.

Ich selbst bin ein grauhaariger, leidender Mensch geworden, aber der frohe Sinn und die Freude am Musizieren sind geblieben. Meine Eltern sind längst tot. Ich freue mich für Sie, dass Sie Ihre Mutter haben behalten dürfen. Seien Sie mit ihr bestens gegrüsst von Ihrem alten A. Einstein“ Translation: „I remember quite well our music-making from 29 years ago. Since then, I've fiddled away a lot and led such a strangely eventful life that the promised cock-a-doodle-doo has stuck in my throat. It must have been the end of 1905. Your little letter was the loveliest thing that came for me on this 50th birthday. It brought everything back to me from those days, the joyful, albeit tough youth, the good people, most of whom have passed away or left my circle. I myself have become a gray-haired, suffering person, but the joyful spirit and the pleasure in making music have remained. My parents have long been dead. I am happy for you that you have been able to keep your mother. Please give her my best regards. Yours sincerely, your old A. Einstein“.

Es ist klar, dass dies wohl dem Buchstaben, aber nicht dem Sinne der Vorschrift entspricht und dass hier sofort etwas geschehen muss, um diese üble Auslegung aus der Welt zu schaffen. Ich bin davon überzeugt, dass die massgebenden Instanzen hierzu sofort bereit wären, wenn sie auf dem richtigen Wege auf den Übelstand hingewiesen würden. Damit würde nicht nur Herrn Ehrmann, sondern auch anderen verdienten Wissenschaftlern geholfen werden, die jetzt in höchster Lebensgefahr schweben […]“.

Scholars who had been dismissed in Germany were half-jokingly referred to as ,irregulars’ to be sold at a reduced price, and of these ,bargains’ Einstein naturally created the greatest sensation: „It was as if a great museum were suddenly to offer for sale Rembrandt’s most valuable paintings at a very low price simply because the new directors of the museum did not like to have pictures of a certain style,“ (Einstein: His Life and Times, Frank). It was newly created Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, that won the bidding when Einstein became its director in 1933. In his new position Einstein ,came to be regarded as the symbol and leader of the entire group of refugee scholars’. He received hundreds of requests for assistance even after the war ended, and judged them with, ,only two considerations in mind: the immediate feeling of sympathy for every suffering person, and the conviction that the pursuit of science should be assisted wherever possible’. In 1940, the year of our letter, Einstein was granted American citizenship. With the original envelope. Fine..

In particular, it would be good for you to tell him that I have given you the affidavit. Hopefully, he will then make an inquiry to you. Naturally, I could answer him without hesitation. Perhaps you will discover another person to whom I could still recommend you. In a holograph postscript, Einstein has added: In the meantime, I have received your second letter. I can certainly understand your reservations, [about taking a position with the pianist hold] as well as the lady who has also written to me in the meantime. Naturally, only you, yourself, can make the decision in this affair. For myself, I have absolutely no better understanding for any kind of involvement here. A lifelong self-promoter and communications innovator, David Sarnoff (1891-1971) has been called the "father of American television." An immigrant, Sarnoff worked first as a cable messenger and telegraph operator to support his parents and eventually worked his way up to become a chief executive of RCA. "In his ongoing effort to make RCA the preeminent corporation in the United States, Sarnoff made a series of job offers to Albert Einstein [in 1935 and 1936]. The prestige of having Einstein on the RCA payroll would be incalculable, if only because Sarnoff would be able to say, 'Albert Einstein works for me.' More specifically, it seems that Sarnoff wanted Einstein to contribute to RCA’s television efforts," (The Last Lone Inventor, Schwartz). Although Sarnoff sought Einstein for the cachet the noted scientist would bring to RCA, Einstein was especially suited to the job, given his seven years working for the Swiss Patent Office, reviewing applications for new inventions. Sarnoff "wasn’t asking the professor to leave his position at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study, only to act as a part-time ‘scientific consultant,’ perhaps lecturing to the engineers and discussing their inventions, contributing new ideas and approaches of course, making it known to the outside world of his affiliation with RCA," (ibid). However, a series of unfortunate events prevented Einstein and Sarnoff from collaborating as each of them would have liked. At the time, Einstein’s wife was seriously ill and she was being treated by Einstein’s friend, physician and inventor Gustav Bucky. Bucky wanted the post that had been offered Einstein, who appealed to Sarnoff to hire both of them. The negotiations dragged on for almost a year. When, in May 1936, Einstein proposed an association between RCA and two paid assistants of his choosing, Sarnoff rejected the idea. But “Einstein was probably relieved. It seems as if Einstein never really wanted to expend any effort on RCA’s behalf. Those that knew him best often said that he cherished more than anything else his time to think on his own, free of outside obligations,” (ibid.). It was on the heels of this protracted correspondence with Sarnoff that Schwarz, who as a musician thought he might make a career in radio, approached Einstein, requesting a recommendation to Sarnoff. Schwarz, the son of concert pianist Joseph Schwarz, first met Einstein in 1923 when he accompanied his father to make music with the great scientist. Einstein was an enthusiastic violinist and their “musical afternoons became a regular occurrence. Once or twice a month [Joseph and Boris] visited Haberlandsberg, bringing stacks of chamber music, all for two violins and piano, and [they] would make music, with the professor, reading through the material,” (Albert Einstein: Historical and Cultural Perspectives, Holton and Elkana). As their relationship developed Albert and Elsa Einstein became patrons of the young musician. However, their idyllic situation changed when, in early spring 1933, shortly after Hitler became chancellor of Germany, Einstein resigned his post at the Prussian Academy of Sciences to settle in Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study and settling in America. In the U.S. Einstein received hundreds of requests for assistance from others wishing to flee the Third Reich. However, it was Elsa Einstein who contacted Schwarz to arrange for his escape from Nazi Germany in 1936. “Soon Einstein’s affidavit was at the Berlin consulate: Boris Schwarz would travel to New York. There he was accommodated by Einstein in a Jewish refugee home and given some fatherly advice on his first steps in this strange country,” (Albert Einstein, Fölsing). The retained carbons of Schwarz’s letters to Einstein, which accompany our letter, also state that Schwarz was considering becoming secretary manager for Ukrainian pianist Shura Cherkassky (1909-1995). After Schwarz’s July arrival, he was so quick to establish himself in the U.S. that he brought his parents over to join him within the year. By 1937 he was head of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and from 1938-1939 performed for the NBC Orchestra under Toscanini’s baton. Despite Einstein’s inability to recommend him to Sarnoff, Schwarz did end up working for RCA as RCA was NBC’s parent company. Folded and in very good condition..

„Ich kann mir denken, dass Dir die soliden Schweizer Lehrmethoden besser gefallen als die oberflächlichen amerikanischen. Überhaupt ist in der Schweiz alles gesünder und ehrlicher - allerdings auch etwas kleinlich und phantasielos. Es imponiert mir, mit was für einer Energie Deine Frau sich auf ihren Beruf vorbereitet. Ihr ruhige und sichere Art wird auch auf Dich wirken. Ich bin ziemlich geschwächt von einer Anemia, so dass ich nicht einmal eine Treppe steigen kann. Aber der Kopf ist immer noch brauchbar und lebendig, sodass ich mich des Daseins freuen kann […]“ „Lieber Hardi“ to his grandson Bernhard Caesar Einstein]. Endearing personal letter to his grandson, with a pen drawing. Bernhard Caesar Einstein (1930-2008), son of Hans Albert, had married in 1954 Doris Aude Ascher (born in 1938): they had 5 children. Einstein picks up somewhat sarcastically on his ,beggar’s letter’ (’Bettelbrief’) and the new ,marital yoke’ (’der Sprung ins Joch’). He hopes he has received the money and if that is not enough he will help more if needed. With regards to his wife’s cold feet (’die Kälte-Empfindlichkeit der Füsse Deiner Frau’), there is a sort of simple electrical lamp that projects a red light and ultra red light, useful during transitional seasons. He draws the lamp and concludes that it does not require very much electricity Einstein comments that Swiss teaching methods are likely better that American ones. In general, evreything is better and more honest in Switzerland – but also a bit petty and lacking imagination (’Überhaupt ist in der Schweiz alles gesünder und ehrlicher – allerdings auch etwas kleinlich und phantasielos.’) He himself is weakened by anemia and cannot walk up stairs. But the head is still operable and alive in order to be grateful for existence (’Aber der Kopf ist immer noch brauchbar und lebendig, sodass ich mich des Daseins freuen kann.’) For about two weeks, from January 2 to 13, Eisenhower spent his furlough in Washington, D.C., visiting his wife and attending a series of conferences. He then returned to London to plan for Overlord—the invasion of France at Normandy [Stephen E. Ambrose, Eisenhower: Soldier and President]..

Ein solcher würde sich jedoch nicht empfehlen, da meine Schwester im Sprechen ausserordentlich behindert ist und bei Gelegenheit eines Besuches sich ihres Zustandes schmerzlicher bewusst wird als sonst. Ich wage es deshalb gar nicht, von Ihrem Briefe etwas zu erwähnen. […]“ - In February 1939, Maja Einstein emigrated to the USA and moved in with her brother Albert in Princeton. Her husband was denied entry to the USA for health reasons, so he stayed with relatives in Geneva. Maja Einstein intended to return home after the end of World War II. In 1946, she suffered a stroke; she also developed arteriosclerosis and became bedridden, preventing her from returning to Europe. The couple maintained a correspondence by letter until Maja Einstein's death. She passed away on June 25, 1951, due to pneumonia following a fractured upper arm in Princeton. Albert Einstein reported after his sister's death: "In the last few years, I read to her every evening from the finest books of old and new literature.".

Written below by a different hand is the English translation as it was finally published: "while it leads to a well-defined theory of the gravitational field it does not determine sufficently the theory of the total field (which includes the electromagnetic field). The reason for this is the fact that the general field laws are not sufficently determined by the general principle of relativity alone". - An exceedingly fine autograph, wherein Einstein implicitly states why he spent so many of his final years searching for a Unified Field Theory. Written on the address side of an envelope addressed to him. Slight damage to edges, somewhat wrinkled..

- Grünberg, the nephew of a close friend of Einstein, appears to have become acquainted with Albert and his second wife Elsa sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s, if not personally, by correspondence. In an undated letter from Berlin, written sometime before 1932, Elsa Einstein commented to Grünberg: "I am assuming you are just as kind and clever as your uncle, our dear friend. My husband and I were so glad having been able doing this small favor for you. Mr. Dunne wrote a most gracious note to us from Florida. In particular I want to thank you for the delicious grapefruits [...]" and adding "Feel free to call on me anytime, if you think I could be of help. Please be sure and do". - Apparently Grünberg took her advice, and travelling to the United States in 1939 approached Einstein for an introduction to fellow engineers in the U. S. in order to demonstrate his hydrofoil designs. The two met in June 1939 at the home of Irving Lehman in Port Chester, New York. - In addition to the introduction to the American engineering community, Einstein also agreed to handle a complex inheritance matter for Grünberg. On 1 July 1939, the same day he recommended Grünberg to his American associates, he wrote to him that he had written "a most insistent letter to Mr. Plesch in which I suggested to name an arbitrator in the inheritance matter who would be agreeable to you as well as to me and who could personally communicate with Mr. Plesch and yourself". Enclosing the letter to Dr. Lewis, Einstein advised, "I cannot understand though, how you could succeed to find a position here without a valid residence permit. I urge you to carefully investigate this subject prior to making use of the enclosed letter". Einstein continued to assist Grünberg with the inheritance issue, acting as a go-between Grünberg in the U. S. and Mr. Plesch in France. - Despite some annoyances, Einstein did what he could for Grünberg both for his inheritance and his scientific pursuits - Grünberg's personal papers concern his research on his hydrofoil designs which he first developed in France. The archive includes some of Grünberg's original drawings demonstrating applications for his design as well as some manuscript calculations in his hand, some original U. S. patent certificates for several inventions, one German patent awarded to him in 1930, original photographs, likely from the early 1930s, and several magazines including Popular Science and others discussing Grünberg's work and designs. - Detailed description available upon request..

- Popper-Lynkeus was a wide-ranging thinker in both the scientific and social spheres: one of his most notable ideas was the proposition of a new social system in which all individuals are provided with goods of primary necessity..

Hoffentlich sehen wir uns dort wieder einmal gemütlich [...]". - In an earlier letter of Elsa's, also regarding family investments administered by Kuno (undated but written aboard the "Oakland", probably in the port of Bremen on 10 December 1932, about to depart for a winter cruise to Pasadena via Middle America), Einstein adds a poignant note about his younger son Eduard, who suffered from schizophrenia and had recently been committed to a mental asylum in Switzerland: "Nimm bitte diese schleichende Sorge von uns; das Leben hat in letzter Zeit Schweres gebracht, da mein liebster Sohn, der Jüngere, in einer Anstalt hat untergebracht werden müssen (Geisteskrankheit) [...]". - In the final missive, possibly another postscript torn from a longer letter, Einstein gives his consent in a single word ("Einverstanden"), signing and dating: "Princeton, 9. Mai 1934 / Albert Einstein". Elsa's own letters discuss travel, finances, Albert Einstein's stay in Spa, etc. - Each sheet with marginal binder holes affecting a few letters, otherwise flawless..

The two men were by this time watching the collapse of Nazism and hoping that a new peaceful German leadership would emerge from the ashes of war, although Einstein here expresses his fear for the future of Europe. Held appears to have sent Einstein a copy of the latest Upton Sinclair novel, "Dragon Harvest" (1945), which was set during the period between the Munich Crisis and the Fall of Paris. It is not clear if Held had realised that Einstein and Sinclair knew each other; Einstein had contributed a preface to Sinclair's "Mental Radio" (1930), and Sinclair made Einstein a friend of his fictional hero Lanny Budd, an American socialist. - On stationery with blindstamped letterhead. Slightly spotty and wrinkled..

I intend once more to encourage Mr. Plesch to put everything in order. As regards your inventions, I suggest that you send them for evaluation to my friend Professor Karman at the California Institute of Technology, who is a first-class expert and has influential connections to the realm of construction and practical implementation in the field. I enclose a letter to him [...]" (transl.). - Wsevolode Grünberg was the nephew of the Russian orthodontist and collector Josef Grünberg, a close friend of both Albert Einstein, who gave him the nickname "Bolshie", and János Plesch during their time in Berlin. It appears that Einstein and his second wife Elsa had become acquainted with Wsevolode Grünberg shortly before their friend's death in 1932. Travelling to America in 1939, Grünberg approached Einstein for an introduction to fellow engineers in the U.S. and help with his inheritance issue back in Europe. The two men met in June 1939 at the home of Irving Lehman in Port Chester, New York, and Einstein subsequently did what he could for Grünberg. In the early 1940s, Grünberg's important hydrofoil designs were used by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) to build a seaplane model that was successfully tested at Langley, VA. Ironically, the classification of the project prevented the French citizen Grünberg from seeing the results of the tests until years after the war. Grünberg later became a U.S. citizen, changing his name to Waldemar A. Craig. - Traces of folds. On Einstein's embossed Princeton stationery..

In 1949, having left his position with Einstein at Princeton University, he published "Some Results in Einstein's Unified Field Theory". The two scientists remained in a working relationship afterwards. - On headed paper; perfectly preserved..

I would appreciate it greatly if you would renew the passports, especially as my daughter is the student of a Belgian sculptor at Bruges" (transl.). - Apparently, the letter was not sent directly to Costermann but was forwarded by the escape agent Max Gottschalk. His letter to the "Director General" is dated 7 May 1934 and accompanied Einstein's letter from 23 April with a further plea to treat the request favourably without delay. - Elsa Einstein's letter from 22 May 1933 to a "Director", very likely the same Costermann, concerns the original foreigner's passport for Margot. Elsa announces that Margot will arrive in Brussels the following day and contact the recipient directly. - Albert and Elsa Einstein were in the U.S. when the Nazis seized power in Germany in February 1933. As they could not return to their home in Potsdam, they sailed to Antwerp in March 1933, immediately renounced their German citizenships, and rented a small villa in Le-Coq-sur-Mer (De Haan) near Bruges, where Margot and her husband joined them. As early as September 1933, Albert and his wife emigrated to the U.S.; Margot and Dimitri would follow them in 1934 after the death of Margot's elder sister Ilse Einstein from tuberculosis. - Following the early death of her mother in 1936, Margot Einstein stayed with her father-in-law in Princeton, studied sculpture, and would live in the family home until her own death in 1986. Little is known about her marriage to Dimitri Marianoff. The couple had married in Berlin on 29 November 1930, much to the displeasure of Albert and Elsa, who distrusted their son-in-law; indeed, Marianoff turned out to be a Russian spy. The marriage probably ended soon after their arrival in the U.S. Marianoff profited from his previous close relationship to the world's most famous physicist by publishing a memoir "Einstein. An Intimate Study of a Great Man" in 1944. - On stationery with typed letterhead of Einstein's first address in Princeton: "2, Library Place". With an official note "Passeport Etr." in ink and a contemporary pencil translation into French. Minimally creased, two minor tears to the left margin and one to the lower margin. - The letter by Elsa Einstein shows three tears and staple holes. The letter by Gottschalk bears an official note "M. Marianoff et Gottschalk le 8.5.34" in ink and "T.U." (possibly "tâche urgent") in crayon and a minor tear..

- The signatures which accompany Einstein's are all of his fellow academics, most of whom are American. Though the American ambassador, Frederic M. Sackett, was himself an alumnus of Harvard Law, Einstein's future lay at the university associated with the name signed after his, a G. Floyd Parker who had graduated from Princeton in 1919. - A clear Einstein autograph in an interesting academic context. Hint of edgewear; signature bright and clean..

- Traces of folds; slight damage to edges and in the centrefold. Accompanied by a contemporary English translation..

Also, I should be able to make a modest contribution myself [...]" (transl.). - This letter relates to Mrs. Eugenie Schwarzwald, a progressive Austrian philanthropist who founded the innovative Schwarzwald school to educate Austrian girls. She was forced to leave Austria due to her Jewish ancestry; her assets were seized by the National Socialists, and the Schwarzwald schools were forcibly closed. Edward Cushing began the "Schwarzwald fund" to support her financially after the seizure of her assets, and in conjunction with the American journalist Dorothy Thompson, rallied for their intended emigration to America - likely referenced here..

[…]“.

Man muss den Mut haben, die Dinge in ihrer Nackheit zu sehen und zu verstehen, um ein ganzer Mensch sein zu können. Spinoza hat gezeigt, dass man dies vollbringen kann. Es müsste Einer kommen, der ihn in schlichter, einfache Sprache neu erstehen liesse. Vielleicht sin Sie der Mann. […]“ Im Brief von 1950: „[…] Sie haben die Unterscheidung zwischen der ethischen Tat bezw. Zielsetzung einerseits und dem Gefühlsmotiv, das zur Tat bezw. Wertung führt andererseits, hübsch ausgeführt. Der Gedanke selbst ist natürlich nicht neu. So ist z.B. Kand drolligerweise so weit in der objectiven Auffassung des Ethischen gegangen, dass er eine Tat nicht als ethisch wertvoll anerkennt, wenn sie unmittelbar einem elementaren Gefühl (z.B. Mitleid) entspringt; er lässt als legitime gefühlsmässige Basis des Ethischen nur das Pflichtbewusstsein gelten, worüber sich schon Schiller lustig gemacht hat. Nach meiner Meinung ist die objective Auffassung, die dem Gegenstand der Ethik angemessens. Die ethische Tat veranlassende emotionelle Situation gehört eigentlich nicht zur Ethik sondern zu Psychologie. […]“.

This way, you can be sure that the work will be accepted if it is completed to his satisfaction, whereas otherwise, you might risk expending a lot of effort in vain." „Ich glaube, dass die Bedenken des Kollegen Wenzel durchaus berechtigt sind. Was ich Ihnen schrieb, war nur ein apercu, leichthin ohne Kenntnisse der einschlägigen Spezal-Literatur geäussert. Ich habe natürlich auch nicht Zeit, mich mit dieser Literatur zu befassen und kann deshalb in der Sache keinerlei Verantwortung übernehmen. Es dürfte aber wohl das Beste sein, das Thema der Dissertation in Einklang mit einem dortigen Kollegen zu wählen. Dann sind Sie sicher, dass die Arbeit angenommen wird, wenn sie zu dessen Befriedigung vollendet wird, während Sie sonst riskieren würden, eine Fülle von Arbeit nutzlos aufzuwenden..

Einstein was a great admirer of Habima. Einstein wrote: "The efforts of ORT for the rehabilitation of Eastern European Jewry are of the highest importance for the Jewish people as a whole. A disease is definitely being healed here, which has brought distress to our people for centuries. I personally attended an unforgettable performance of ‘The Dybbuk' at the Habima Theatre and I am convinced that the high level of this play will be enthusiastically received locally as well" (transl. from the German original). - The organization known as ORT ("Organization for Rehabilitation through Training") was established in Tsarist Russia in 1880 by Jewish philanthropists with the goal of providing professional training for members of struggling Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. The organization established a network of schools in the Pale of Settlement and in Russia, which, following the First World War, expanded to the West and opened branches throughout the world. In late October, 1930, the British branch of ORT held a luncheon attended by academics, philanthropists, and rabbis. In attendance were George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, and Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom Joseph Herman (Zvi) Hertz. These figures were joined by Albert Einstein, who took the opportunity to express his great regard for the ORT organization in a speech he delivered at the event. - Typed on the official stationery of the California Institute of Technology. Stains. Fold lines. Minor creases. Remnants of glued paper on verso..