▲Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 - April 18, 1955)
On April 18, 1955, Albert Einstein passed away. Albert Einstein is a world-famous scientist, and people are well known for his research through his excellent scientific theories, but in fact, Einstein is a person with deep religious feelings, he has his own unique observation and thinking, and is deeply concerned about the fate of the entire human race. This article is his famous article, and I hereby share:
What a strange fate for those of us who will eventually die!
In this world, everyone is a passer-by, and he does not know what his purpose is, although sometimes he thinks he can feel it. But without thinking too much, we know from everyday life that people live for others—first for those whose happiness depends entirely on their happiness and health, and for many people whose fate is intimately linked to us by the bonds of sympathy.
I remind myself countless times a day that my spiritual and material life depends on the labor of others, and whether they are dead or alive, I must do my best to repay what I have received and am receiving.
I had a strong yearning for a frugal life, and I was often overwhelmed by the fact that I had taken up too much of the labour of my fellow citizens. I think the class distinction is irrational and that it is ultimately based on violence. I also believe that a simple and simple life is good for everyone, both physically and mentally.
I don't believe in philosophical freedom at all. Everyone's behavior is not only compelled by the outside world, but also conforms to the inner necessity. Schopenhauer said, "Man can do what he wants, but he cannot do what he wills." "This phrase has been inspiring to me since I was a young man; It always gives me comfort when I face life's difficulties and is always a source of forgiveness.
This recognition can alleviate the sense of responsibility that can easily discourage us, prevent us from taking ourselves and others too seriously, and help to establish a view of life in which humor has a special place.
Objectively speaking, it is ridiculous for me to explore the meaning or purpose of the existence of a person or of all living beings. Still, each has some ideals that serve as a guide for his efforts and judgments. In this sense, I have never seen comfort and pleasure as an end in itself (I call this ethical basis the ideal of the pigpen).
The ideals that illuminate my path are goodness, beauty, and truth, and they constantly give me new courage to face life with joy.
If there is no intimacy with like-minded people, if it is not for the objective world, which can never be reached in the field of art and scientific research, life seems to me to be empty. The vulgar goals that people strive for—possessions, fame, luxury—have always found contemptible to me.
I have strong feelings about social justice and social responsibility, but I also show a marked indifference to direct contact with others and society, and there is always a strange contrast between the two. I was a "lonely passerby" who never wholeheartedly belonged to my country, my family, my friends, or even my immediate family; In the face of all these relationships, I have never lost a sense of alienation and the need to remain alone, and this feeling is growing by the day.
It is clear that there are limits to mutual understanding and harmony with others, but this is not a pity. Such a person will undoubtedly lose some of his innocence and carefreeness, but he will also be able to be largely unswayed by the opinions, habits, and judgments of others, and will not try to base his inner balance on such unreliable foundations.
My political ideal is democracy. Everyone should be respected as a human being and no one should be idolized.
I have always been excessively praised and respected by others, and it is not my fault or merit, but it is really a mockery of fate. This probably stems from a desire that many people have been unable to fulfill, and who want to understand a few ideas that I have acquired through my own modest efforts.
I am well aware that for an organization to achieve its goals, there must be someone who thinks, directs, and is fully accountable. But the led must not be forced, they must be able to choose their own leader.
It seems to me that a coercive dictatorship quickly corrupts and degenerates, because violence always attracts people of inferior moral character. I believe that it is an eternal law that the tyrant of genius is always succeeded by the villain.
Therefore, I have always been strongly opposed to those systems in Italy and Russia today. The question of the form of democracy in Europe today cannot be attributed to the principles of democracy per se, but to the lack of stability of government and the lack of consideration of humanity in the electoral system. In this regard, I believe that the United States has found the right path. They elected presidents who served long enough to have full powers to really carry out their duties.
What I value about the German political system is that it has broad provisions for the sick or the poor. In the richness and diversity of human life, I believe that what is truly valuable is not the political state, but the creative and emotional individual, the personality; Only the individual can create what is noble and noble, and the people themselves are always dull in their thoughts and feelings. Moving on to this topic, I would like to turn to one of the worst manifestations of popular life, and that is the military system, which I hate.
The fact that a man can take pleasure in marching through a procession to the melody of military music is enough for me to despise him. He had a brain just because he was mistaken, and his spinal cord alone was enough for his needs. This evil source of civilization should be eradicated as soon as possible. The heroism of the commands, the senseless atrocities, all the disgusting nonsense carried out in the name of patriotism, all this is deeply hated by me.
How evil, vile war seems to me! I'd rather be cut by a thousand cuts than be part of this abominable deed. In any case, I still have a high opinion of human beings. I believe that the demon of war would have disappeared long ago had it not been for the commercial and political interests that worked through schooling, education and the press that systematically undermined people's sense of health.
The most beautiful experience we can have is a mystical experience. This fundamental emotion is the true birthplace of art and science. Whoever does not understand it, who ceases to have curiosity and amazement, is like the walking dead, and his vision is blurred. It is this experience of mystery – even if mixed with fear – that gives rise to religion.
We recognize that there is something incomprehensible, and we feel the deepest reason and the most splendid beauty that can only be grasped by our mind in its most primitive form—it is this knowledge and this emotion that constitutes true religiousness; In this sense, and only in this sense, I am a religious person.
I can't imagine God rewarding and punishing His creation, nor can I imagine Him having the kind of will that we experience firsthand. I can't and don't want to imagine a person living after a physical death; Let those fragile souls, out of fear or ridiculous solipsism, take these thoughts as treasures!
I am content with the eternal mysteries of life, with knowing and peering into the marvelous structures of the existing world, and with sincere efforts to comprehend that part of reason, even if only a very small part, which is revealed in nature.