I am a big fan of Albert Einstein and though I have several engineering degrees, the reason I am such a big fan is not why he was so famous. Albert Einstein facts and wisdom go way beyond his scientific achievements. Let’s start with why he is famous and then I’ll explain why I am such an admirer.

Einstein facts and wisdom.

Check out our thoughts on team leverage

Here is a short review of why he was so famous. He was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, he is often regarded as the father of modern physics and the most influential physicist of the 20th century.

While best known for his mass-energy formula E = mc²(often dubbed “the world’s most famous equation”),^[he received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his services to theoretical physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.

The latter was pivotal in establishing quantum theory within physics.

Related value: Never Give Up Your Dreams

Very impressive indeed, but not why I am such a big fan. To see his true wisdom and value you must study the man. I group his wisdom and value into 6 interesting categories. I will use these 6 categories to highlight Einstein’s true wisdom:

His Personality

While having a strong will, Einstein was very humble and attributed his talent to his passionate curiosity and imagination. He felt both were more important than knowledge. His view was that the true sign of intelligence was not knowledge but imagination and believed that the only source of knowledge was experience.

Views on Life

A focus on simplicity was one of his main tenets and though his skill in physics was renown, he believed everything that can be counted did not necessarily count and that everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted. He believed in being a giver… only a life lived for others was a life worthwhile.

Einstein was often frustrated with the state of his times and felt that the world would require a substantially new manner of thinking to survive. He felt that the world was dangerous not because evil people but because of people who recognize the evil, yet do nothing about it. His characterization of the age was that world leaders had developed a perfection of means yet had a significant confusion of ends.

His personality is shown well here: Albert Einstein’s Enormous Contribution to Science and How to Groom His Distinctive Mustache

Views on Creativity

His thought was felt that imagination was more valuable than logic … logic could get you from A to B, but imagination could take you everywhere. He was an early believer in trying many new things and not fearing mistakes … felt that someone who never made a mistake never tried new things. His view was any intelligent fool could make things bigger and more complex, but the genius and courage were heading in the opposite direction.

Problem Solving Thinking

Einstein believed that if he was given 20 hours to solve a problem, he would spend 18 hours on understanding the problem and 2 hours on the solution. That is one of my favorite lessons from this thinker. He didn’t think he was that smart, it’s just that he had the skill of persistence to stay with problems longer than most people.

Maintained a strong belief on the necessity of eliminating biases to be able to look for what is and not for what they should be. Always stated that problems required a new level of consciousness beyond the one that created the problem … he was a big proponent of change.

Education Views

Einstein was not a proponent of the education systems of his day. He used to say that one’s education was what was left after one had forgotten what one learned had learned in school. He also felt that it was a miracle that any curiosity was able to survive formal education.

Einstein facts and wisdom … laugh often

When you are courting a nice girl, an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder, a second seems like an hour. That’s relativity.

Einstein had an excellent way to make people laugh. To him, it was a serious business, indeed. He made people think while making them smile with almost all of his work.

My lesson learned is not to take myself so seriously. And laugh often.

Albert Einstein quotes about life … keep pushing

You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.

Einstein was often frustrated with the state of his times and felt that the world would require a substantially new manner of thinking to survive. But that did not mean he was without hope. He knew that the rules of the game as much as the next guy and an important rule was always to keep pushing.

My lesson learned is to keep going despite indifference, and even when I feel discouraged by my work.

Albert Einstein famous quotes … a simple life

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

A focus on simplicity was one of Einstein’s central tenets, and though his skill in physics was renown, he believed everything that can be counted did not necessarily count and that everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.

My lesson learned is to always think and live as simply as possible with balance in life.

His Sense of Humor

He often stated that his secret to creativity was knowing how to hide his sources. The difference between stupidity and genius he felt was that genius had its limits … and liked to say that only 2 things were infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and he wasn’t sure about the former.

Finally, he was a very observant person and noted that as he got more and more famous he got, the more and more stupid he also became. That he said was a very common phenomenon.

Another great story: Great Stories and Storytelling Can Have a Very Healing Influence

The bottom line

So maybe you’ll agree with me about the wisdom of Albert Einstein, eh? What is most amazing to me is the fact that most of his wisdom is more applicable in today’s society than it was in his. He was always considered ahead of his time, wasn’t he?

What are people from our history your favorite heroes? Any stories to share?

Need some help in capturing more customers from your marketing or advertising campaigns? Looking for creative ideas to help the differentiation with potential customers?

Call today for a FREE consultation or a FREE quote. Learn about some options to scope your job.

Call Mike at 607-725-8240.

All you get is what you bring to the fight. And that fight gets better every day you learn and apply new ideas.

When things are not what you want them to be, what’s most important is your next step. Call today.

Test. Learn. Improve. Repeat.

Are you devoting enough energy to improving your enthusiasm?

Do you have a lesson about making your motivation better you can share with this community? Have any questions or comments to add in the section below?

Digital Spark Marketing will stretch your thinking and your ability to adapt to change. We also provide some fun and inspiration along the way. Call us for a free quote today. You will be amazed at how reasonable we will be.

Great Stories and Storytelling Can Have a Very Healing Influence

Never Give Up Your Dreams

The Story of Tank the Dog or Is It Reggie?

Mike Schoultz is a digital marketing and customer service expert. With 48 years of business experience, he consults on and writes about topics to help improve the performance of small business. Find him on G+, Facebook, Twitter, Digital Spark Marketing, and LinkedIn.

The secret to learning, knowledge, and imagination? Probably not to Einstein. No stranger to sharing knowledge and advice with young minds with Einstein letters.

Everyone is a genius …

But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree,

it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.

– Albert Einstein

We are fans of Albert Einstein, there is no doubt. There is probably more to Einstein and philosophy outside of science than in his world within science and many great stories.

As an example … Einstein’s views on life were most interesting. A focus on simplicity was one of his main tenets and though his skill in physics was renown, he believed everything that can be counted did not necessarily count and that everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.

He believed in being a giver… only a life lived for others was a life worthwhile. Einstein was often frustrated with the state of his times and felt that the world would require a substantially new manner of thinking to survive. He felt that the world was dangerous not because of evil people but because of people who recognize the evil, yet do nothing about it.

His characterization of the age was that world leaders had developed a perfection of means yet had a significant confusion of ends.

This article will give you a great background on Einstein’s wisdom. A man ahead of his time. This letter exchange will then have more meaning.

We recently read a very interesting article from Brain Picking’s Weekly. Have you ever read from this weekly? Always chock full of interesting reads. Certainly, the case here, especially since we are such fans of Albert Einstein. It is a story we will share.

From Dear Professor Einstein: Albert Einstein’s Letters to and from Children (public library) comes the following exchange between Einstein and a bright, witty South African girl named Tyfanny, who reminded Einstein of his own granddaughter and with whom he exchanged several letters despite being at the height of his career and cultural prominence.

In a letter dated September 19, 1946, Tyfanny writes:

I forgot to tell you, in my last letter, that I was a girl. I mean I am a girl. I have always regretted this a great deal, but by now I have become more or less resigned to the fact. Anyway, I hate dresses and dances and all the kind of rot girls usually like. I much prefer horses and riding. Long ago, before I wanted to become a scientist, I wanted to be a jockey and ride horses in races. But that was ages ago, now. I hope you will not think any the less of me for being a girl!

Sometime between September and October 1946 — a snappy response time by the day’s standards — Einstein replies:

I do not mind that you are a girl, but the main thing is that you yourself do not mind. There is no reason for it.

What is most amazing to me is the fact that most of his wisdom is more applicable in today’s society than it was in his. He was always considered ahead of his time, wasn’t he?

Einstein was never short of good ideas. And his best ideas were perhaps those ideas not limited to science.

Remember … stay curious; keep refreshing your sources. What we see depends on what we look for.

Need some help in capturing more customers from your marketing or advertising campaigns? Looking for creative ideas to help the differentiation with potential customers?

Call today for a FREE consultation or a FREE quote. Learn about some options to scope your job.