Portrait of Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

Theory of relativity

Modern influential 78 sayings

Sayings by Albert Einstein

The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.

1952 — In a letter to physicist Michele Besso.
Wisdom Unverifiable

If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music.

1929 — Interview in 'The Saturday Evening Post'.
Inspirational Unverifiable

I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace.

1931 — Statement during a lecture in New York.
War & Conflict Unverifiable

The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.

Unknown — Attributed in various sources, possibly apocryphal.
Wisdom Confirmed

The Germans as a whole are guilty of these mass murders and must be punished as a people...

1945 — Letter to Otto Nathan regarding post-WWII Germany
General Unverifiable

I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil.

1929 — Interview with George Sylvester Viereck
Religious Unverifiable

The Negroes are certainly more primitive than us, but not in a negative sense.

1922 — Travel diary during his trip to Asia and Palestine
General Unverifiable

Marriage is the unsuccessful attempt to make something lasting out of an incident.

1930 — Letter to Eduard Einstein
General Unverifiable

I must confess that the degree of their brutality and cowardice came as something of a surprise.

1941 — Referring to the Japanese after Pearl Harbor
General Unverifiable

The Jews are a community bound together by ties of blood and tradition, not of religion only.

1921 — Speech at the Menorah Society
Religious Unverifiable

I see only with deep regret that God punishes so many of His children for their numerous stupidities.

1926 — Letter to Max Born
Religious Unverifiable

The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses.

1954 — Letter to philosopher Eric Gutkind
Religious Unverifiable

The Chinese don't sit on benches while eating but squat like Europeans do when they relieve themselves out in the leafy woods.

1922 — Travel diary during his trip to Asia
General Unverifiable

The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence.

May 2, 1955 — From an interview in 'LIFE' magazine
General Unverifiable

Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.

1929 — From an interview with George Sylvester Viereck, 'What Life Means to Einstein'
General Unverifiable

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.

Uncertain — Attributed, but specific source is elusive. Reflects his general philosophy.
General Unverifiable

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.

1952 — From a letter to Carl Seelig
Self-Deprecating Confirmed

The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.

Uncertain — Widely attributed, but definitive primary source is elusive. Reflects a common sentiment among scien…
Self-Deprecating Unverifiable

It is not that I'm so smart, but I stay with problems longer.

Uncertain — Attributed to Einstein in various biographical accounts.
General Unverifiable

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

N/A — Widely attributed, but no definitive evidence that Einstein ever said or wrote this. It is often mis…
General Unverifiable
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