Albert Einstein - (1875-1955) --Physicist, born in Germany, spent later years in the U.S.; won 1921 Nobel Prize for Photoelectric Effect, best known for Theories of Relativity; initiated U.S. nuclear program in WW II.

Profiles of men can be seen in the glimpses we find in their quotes as well as words written by others about them. The Wordwright

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

As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality."

"Common sense is that layer of prejudices which we acquire before we are sixteen."

"The crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of capitalism. Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career." (Monthly Review, 1949)

"The difference between what the most and the least learned people know is inexpressibly trivial in relation to that which is unknown."

"Do not worry about your problems in mathematics. I assure you, my problems with mathematics are much greater than yours."

"The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility."

"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. "

"God may be subtle, but He isn't mean. "

"Gravitation can not be held resposible for people falling in love."

"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."

"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice."

"A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the measure as I have received and am still receiving.
I am absolutely convinced that no wealth in the world can help humanity forward, even in the hands of the most devoted worker. The example of great and pure individuals is the only thing that can lead us to noble thoughts and deeds. Money only appeals to selfishness and irresistably invites abuse. Can anyone imagine Moses, Jesus or Ghandi armed with the money-bags of Carnegie?" (On Wealth, 1954)

"I am convinced that He [God] does not play dice. "

"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."

"I don't know how man will fight World War III, but I do know how they will fight World War IV; with sticks and stones."

"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough. "
I must voice some disagreement here with Einstein (in principle and fact) -- Surely "tomorrow" often comes soon enough but one must be prepared for tomorrow physically and spiritually, and that does take a lot of thought and diligence as well. The Wordwright

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

"It is not the fruits of scientific research that elevate man and enrich his nature. but the urge to understand, the intellectual work, creative or receptive." - from Ideas and Opinions (1954)

"The man who regards his own life and that of his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unhappy but hardly fit for life. "

"You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat."

---- The above thoughts gives one a little different slant on Albert Einstein than just a picture of a man with tossled hair, doesn't it? The Wordwright