Albert Einstein

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe”, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.

3 thoughts on “Albert Einstein

  1. shinichi Post author

    The New Quotable Einstein

    by Alice Calaprice

    A letter to a distraught father who had lost his young son and had asked Einstein for some comforting words:

    Letter


    February 12, 1950

    Dear Mr. Marcus:

    A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe”, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest — a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. The striving to free oneself from this delusion is the one issue of true religion. Not to nourish the delusion but to try to overcome it is the way to reach the attainable measure of peace of mind.

    With my best wishes,
    sincerely yours,

    Albert Einstein.

    Mr. Robert S.Marcus
    World Jewish Congress
    1834 Broadway
    New York 23,N.Y.

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  2. shinichi Post author

    人間存在は、我々が『宇宙』と呼ぶ全体の一部であり、時間と空間において限られた一部である。人は他から切り離されたものとして、自分自身と自分の思考や感情を経験する。この妄想は我々にとって一種の牢獄であり、個人の欲望と、最も近しい数人への愛情に我々を限定してしまう。我々の努めるべきことは、すべての生きものと自然の全体をその美しさにおいて包含する同情の環を広げ、我々自身をこの牢獄から解放することである。

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