Details
EINSTEIN, Albert. Autograph letter signed ('Papa') to his son Hans Albert, Christ Church, Oxford, 30 May 1933, 1½ pages, 4°.
'I CANNOT BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME DEMANDS AS THE ORDINARY MAN'. Einstein feels that he had misjudged Hans Albert's motives in a recent argument: 'The main motive was somehow to revenge the feeling of undeserved neglect and need'. But Einstein protests that his life is 'more laden with stress and obligations than that of the average man, and therefore I cannot be subject to the same claims'. Nevertheless, at their meeting in Zurich, Einstein saw that Hans Albert had remained the 'treuherzige Junge von früher' [true-hearted boy of old]. He is not worried that ambition will gnaw away at him, as had certainly happened to [Einstein's younger son] Eduard. Eduard's condition is worsening, and his state is in marked contrast to his former personality. At least he seems to suffer less than before.
Eduard Einstein had suffered a final nervous breakdown in 1932. The disagreements with Hans Albert which prompted this letter presumably related to Einstein's will: Einstein had asked for a formal agreement that Mileva and his sons would not contest his will.
'I CANNOT BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME DEMANDS AS THE ORDINARY MAN'. Einstein feels that he had misjudged Hans Albert's motives in a recent argument: 'The main motive was somehow to revenge the feeling of undeserved neglect and need'. But Einstein protests that his life is 'more laden with stress and obligations than that of the average man, and therefore I cannot be subject to the same claims'. Nevertheless, at their meeting in Zurich, Einstein saw that Hans Albert had remained the 'treuherzige Junge von früher' [true-hearted boy of old]. He is not worried that ambition will gnaw away at him, as had certainly happened to [Einstein's younger son] Eduard. Eduard's condition is worsening, and his state is in marked contrast to his former personality. At least he seems to suffer less than before.
Eduard Einstein had suffered a final nervous breakdown in 1932. The disagreements with Hans Albert which prompted this letter presumably related to Einstein's will: Einstein had asked for a formal agreement that Mileva and his sons would not contest his will.
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