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Details
EINSTEIN, Albert (1879-1955). Autograph letter signed ('Einstein') to Moritz Schlick, n.p., 1 December 1919, in German, one page, large 4to (279 x 227mm), perforated at upper edge (small splits at horizontal fold, one small tape repair to verso at right margin); with an English translation.
ON THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE OF GERMANY, THE GREATNESS OF MAX PLANCK, AND MIND OVER MATTER. A letter of gratitude to Schlick and his wife Barbara for their care and hospitality (during his recent visit to Rostock to receive an honorary doctorate), in which generosity shaded into self-denial, 'For now you are sitting by the only heat-emitting stove, and the lady of the house is keeping a watchful eye on the bread for the next few days, and the flour is acrid, not satisfying even to a mouse'. Einstein has returned home to find manuscripts to review and other burdensome duties; he has attended a discussion of the economic situation -- 'at which a gradual but inevitable total collapse of the economy was prophesied ... I am merely reporting what they said; I myself do not have the requisite overview for making prophecies, nor probably do the others. Nonetheless, they all shared the same pessimism. The tone was: a year ago one really could have done this or that, but as to now ...'. In a postscript, Einstein mentions that he had visited Max Planck (whose daughter had recently died), 'without being able to hold back my tears at the sight of him. He was in command of himself and composed -- a truly great and exceptional person. I read with amazement Stumpf's article on the psychophysically mixed causal chain. I will espouse his view when it is shown that one can change one's weight by sheer willpower!'.
ON THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE OF GERMANY, THE GREATNESS OF MAX PLANCK, AND MIND OVER MATTER. A letter of gratitude to Schlick and his wife Barbara for their care and hospitality (during his recent visit to Rostock to receive an honorary doctorate), in which generosity shaded into self-denial, 'For now you are sitting by the only heat-emitting stove, and the lady of the house is keeping a watchful eye on the bread for the next few days, and the flour is acrid, not satisfying even to a mouse'. Einstein has returned home to find manuscripts to review and other burdensome duties; he has attended a discussion of the economic situation -- 'at which a gradual but inevitable total collapse of the economy was prophesied ... I am merely reporting what they said; I myself do not have the requisite overview for making prophecies, nor probably do the others. Nonetheless, they all shared the same pessimism. The tone was: a year ago one really could have done this or that, but as to now ...'. In a postscript, Einstein mentions that he had visited Max Planck (whose daughter had recently died), 'without being able to hold back my tears at the sight of him. He was in command of himself and composed -- a truly great and exceptional person. I read with amazement Stumpf's article on the psychophysically mixed causal chain. I will espouse his view when it is shown that one can change one's weight by sheer willpower!'.
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