Albert Einstein

[Pharaoh]

"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the '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 us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."-- Albert Einstein

O8)

Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." --Albert Einstein

"You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." --Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

"You cannot solve problems with the same level of consciousness that created them." --Albert Einstein

[Orrex]

1. I'd like to see a source for that first quote

"Optical delusion" seems a more trite play on words than I usually associate with Einstein.


On edit: Whoops. Found it myself. Funny what you can see when you look.

Though I'm still surprised that he used that phrase.

[Pharaoh]

2. sure

http://thinkexist.com/quotation/a_human_being_is_part_of_a_whole-called_by_us_the/10110.html

[Orrex]

3. Thanks--I found it shortly after I posted

:hi:

[Zorra]

4. Like, what's with all these hippie posts at DU lately?

Einstein was not only intellectually brilliant, he was a wise person as well.

Thank you for sharing this.
:hi:

[BanzaiBonnie]

5. Thanks for posting this

[white_wolf]

6. Einstien was also a communist and member of the CPUSA

despite his opposition to Stalin, something that you don't learn in school.

[Pharaoh]

7. do you have a few links

to back that up?

[JanMichael]

8. Here's one called "Why Socialism".

1949


http://monthlyreview.org/2009/05/01/why-socialism

EDIT: I do not know about the CPUSA membership but he was a Socialist.

[Pharaoh]

9. Bernie Sanders is a Socialist

So am I, it is a different thing than Stalin and Communism as far as I am aware. Capitalism seems to be a much worse system.

[white_wolf]

10. Communism is a form of socialism.

Einstein was not a Stalinist, but he was likely a communist of some type as he advocated for a planned state ran economy.

"I am convinced there is only one way to eliminate (the) grave evils (of capitalism), namely through the establishment of a socialist economy, accompanied by an educational system which would be oriented toward social goals. In such an economy, the means of production are owned by society itself and are utilized in a planned fashion. A planned economy, which adjusts production to the needs of the community, would distribute the work to be done among all those able to work and would guarantee a livelihood to every man, woman, and child. The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own innate abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow-men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society."

[Pharaoh]

13. yes, I agree

:toast:

[socialist_n_TN]

16. Sounds pretty commie to me

:)

[Poiuyt]

11. Funny, I just got done reading a big biography about Einstein and that wasn't mentioned.

[white_wolf]

12. If it didn't mention his socialist views then it probably isn't a very good biography.

[Poiuyt]

17. That's a pretty big leap going from socialist viewpoints to being a member of the Communist Party

"I have never been a Communist," he said. "But if I were, I would not be ashamed of it."

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/einstein/global/mccarthy.php

[Forkboy]

14. Let me add my favorite Einstein quote of all, and one that sums me up to perfection.

"I have never belonged wholeheartedly to country, or state, to my circle of friends or even my own family. These ties have always been accompanied by a vague aloofness, and the wish to withdraw into myself increases with the years. Such isolation is sometimes bitter, but I do not regret being cut off from the understanding and sympathy of other men. I lose something by it, to be sure, but I am compensated for it by being rendered independent of the customs, opinions, and prejudices of others, and am not tempted to rest my piece of mind upon such shifting sands."

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. And, this one..

"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. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder." Albert Einstein

[SidDithers]

18. #36...

Quote Einstein, and do so often. Quote things he said if possible, but Einstein has been dead for ages now and so it's permissible to bring him up to date. Change the odd word here and there to make it clear that Einstein would have supported your argument if only he knew what you know. Act as if any arbitrary Einstein quote supports your position.

http://www.insolitology.com/tests/credo.htm

Sid