Carolyn and I have appreciated the work of theoretical physicist Albert Einstein, one of the most influential scientists in human history. He is best known for developing the theory of relativity and won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. His mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc² is considered the most famous scientific equation in the world, and he was a dedicated champion for peace.

Albert Einstein was born in 1879 in Ulm, in the Kingdom of Württemberg in the German Empire. His parents were secular Ashkenazi Jews. Einstein‘s father was a salesman and engineer, who ran a business that manufactured electrical equipment. His mother was a well-educated woman who played a significant role in her son’s early education, particularly in music. She was a talented pianist, and her influence is thought to have contributed to Einstein’s lifelong love of music.

Shortly after Einstein’s birth, his family moved to Munich, where his father and uncle co-founded an electrical engineering company. During his early years, Einstein’s parents noticed his slow development, particularly his delayed speech, which caused them some concern. Despite this, he exhibited a strong curiosity and interest in the world around him, often spending long periods pondering simple objects. The family environment was intellectually stimulating, with his mother nurturing his interest in music, particularly the violin, and his father exposing him to scientific ideas.

In 1884, at the age of five, Einstein had a pivotal experience with a compass, which deepened his fascination with invisible forces and sparked his lifelong interest in understanding the mysteries of the natural world. In 1885, at the age of six, he began taking violin lessons, and he became a passionate violinist who played the instrument throughout most of his life.

In 1888, Einstein started attending the Luitpold Gymnasium in Munich, where he was an excellent student, although his personality often clashed with the rigid, rote-learning educational system. Einstein’s independent spirit and curiosity often put him at odds with the school’s strict approach, but he found solace in self-study, particularly in mathematics, which he pursued with great enthusiasm. In 1891, at the age of 12, Einstein began teaching himself advanced mathematics, including calculus, which fueled his fascination with physics.

During this period, his family’s business began to struggle, leading to financial difficulties. In 1894, when Einstein was 15, his family moved to Italy for better business opportunities, but he stayed behind to finish school. However, unhappy with the schooling system, Einstein eventually left the Luitpold Gymnasium and joined his family in Italy.

That same year Einstein applied to the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Zurich. Although he initially failed the entrance exam in 1895, he was accepted after completing additional schooling in Aarau, Switzerland. In 1896, Einstein renounced his German citizenship to avoid military service and became stateless. He then enrolled at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic, where he studied under renowned physicists and developed his foundational ideas in theoretical physics. By 1901, Einstein graduated with a teaching diploma, became a Swiss citizen, and he published his first scientific paper.

In 1902, Einstein began working at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern, a job that provided him with financial stability and ample time to pursue his scientific interests. In 1905, Einstein published four groundbreaking papers that fundamentally changed the understanding of physics. These papers introduced the theory of special relativity, the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, and the equivalence of mass and energy (E=mc²), establishing him as a leading physicist.

Einstein’s theory of special relativity states that the laws of physics are the same for all observers, regardless of their constant speed, and that the speed of light is constant in a vacuum. This understanding leads to unusual phenomena like time dilation and length contraction when objects move close to the speed of light.

In 1909, Einstein left the patent office to accept a full-time academic position at the University of Zurich, marking the beginning of his academic career. In 1912, Einstein moved to Prague to take up a professorship and then returned to Zurich, where he continued to develop his theories, including the early stages of his work on general relativity.

In 1913, Einstein accepted a position at the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin, where he also became the director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Physics. During World War I, despite the turbulent times, Einstein continued his work on the theory of general relativity, which he completed in 1915.

General relativity expanded his concept of special relativity by describing gravity not as a force, but as a curvature of spacetime caused by mass and energy. Massive objects cause spacetime to curve, and this curvature affects the motion of objects and the flow of time. This theory revolutionized the understanding of gravity and was experimentally confirmed in 1919 during a solar eclipse, which brought Einstein global fame.

The 1920s saw Einstein become a prominent public figure, traveling extensively and promoting his scientific ideas. In 1921, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect, which was crucial in the development of quantum theory. Throughout this period, Einstein also engaged in various humanitarian and political causes, advocating for peace and Zionism. During the end of this decade, Einstein focused on unifying the fundamental forces of physics, although he grew increasingly skeptical of the emerging field of quantum mechanics. In the early 1930s, as the political situation in Germany deteriorated with the rise of the Nazi regime, he decided to leave Germany.

In 1933, when Einstein was fleeing Germany to the United States, he stopped in England, where he stayed with the famous author H.G. Wells. During this visit, Einstein met Charlie Chaplin at the premiere of the film City Lights. Chaplin reportedly said, “They cheer me because they all understand me, and they cheer you because no one understands you,” to which Einstein smiled in agreement.

That same year Einstein settled in the United States, accepting a position at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, where he would remain for the rest of his life. During this time, Einstein became an outspoken advocate against fascism and war, supporting efforts to help Jewish refugees. He also played a role in alerting President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the potential of nuclear weapons, contributing to the initiation of the Manhattan Project, although he was a lifelong pacifist.

In 1940, Einstein became an American citizen, fully committed to both his scientific pursuits and his advocacy for global peace and human rights. After the war, Einstein became a vocal advocate for nuclear disarmament, warning about the dangers of atomic weapons and promoting peaceful uses of atomic energy. He was an outspoken supporter of civil rights and was affiliated with various humanitarian causes. Einstein became a symbol of intellectual freedom and moral integrity, and in 1952 he rejected an offer to become the president of Israel, choosing instead to focus on science and advocacy.

Einstein’s views on spirituality were complex and nuanced. He did not believe in a personal God or traditional religious doctrines, but he often spoke of a “cosmic religion” or “cosmic sense” that reflected a deep reverence for the order and mystery of the universe. He saw spirituality in the awe and wonder inspired by nature and the intricate laws governing the cosmos, famously saying, “God does not play dice with the universe.” Einstein’s spirituality was rooted in his belief in a rational, comprehensible universe, which he felt revealed a higher order or intelligence, though not one tied to human-like deities or religious dogma.

Despite declining health in his final years, Einstein remained active in his research and public life. He also continued to work on his Unified Field Theory, although it remained incomplete at the time of his death. Einstein died in 1955 at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy that profoundly shaped both the scientific world and broader society.

Einstein’s theories revolutionized our understanding of space and time, and he was a passionate advocate for peace, civil rights, and humanitarian causes, using his fame to influence global affairs. His contributions continue to shape modern physics, and his image remains synonymous with creativity, curiosity, and the pursuit of knowledge.

Some of the quotes that Albert Einstein is known for include:

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.

Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

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.

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.

The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.

If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.

by David Jay Brown