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Albert Einstein
(14 Mar 1879 - 18 Apr 1955)
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Albert Einstein Quote
“The Lord God is Subtle”
Illustrated Quote - Large (800 x 600 px)
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This remark was made to mathematics professor Oscar Veblen in May 1921, while Einstein was on his first lecturing visit to Princeton University (Apr/May 1921). He was responding to the news of an experimental result that a “non aether drift” had been found by Dayton C. Miller that at the Mount Vernon Observatory. (If true, that would contradict his theory of gravitation, but the result turned out to be false.) Stated in his native German:
One interpretation is that Einstein was expressing his belief that nature's secrets would eventually yield to human reason, even if only after much imagination and toil.1 Some say by this remark Einstein meant that Nature hides her secrets by being subtle, while others say he meant that Nature is mischievous but not bent on trickery.2
The quote, in German, was later carved in the stonework over the fireplace in the Einstein faculty lounge of the Princeton Department of Mathematics.
Hans Ohanian in his book Einstein's Mistakes3 says that the German word “Raffiniert” has an idiomatic meaning with a somewhat negative connotation, and is better translated as “cunning” or “crafty.” Thus, “God is cunning, but not malicious.” Einstein’s own translation given to Derek Price was “God is slick, but he ain't mean.”4
2 Fred R. Shapiro (ed.), The Yale Book of Quotations (2006), 230.
3 Hans C. Ohanian, Einstein's Mistakes: The Human Failings of Genius (2009), Preface, xii.
4 Translation given to Derek Price in 1946, stated without citation in Alan L. MacKay, A Dictionary of Scientific Quotations (1991), 82.
- Science Quotes by Albert Einstein.
- 14 Mar - short biography, births, deaths and events on date of Einstein's birth.
- Albert Einstein - My Theory - The Times (1919).
- Geometry and Experience - Address by Albert Einstein to the Prussian Academy of Sciences (27 Jan 1921).
- Even Einstein's Little Universe Is Big Enough - New York Times article (2 Feb 1921).
- Large color picture of Albert Einstein (850 x 1000 px).
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- Albert Einstein - Context of “Laws of mathematics refer to reality” quote - with Large image (800 x 600 px).
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- Albert Einstein - context of quote “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote The Lord God is subtle - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote Imagination is more important than knowledge - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote Imagination is more important than knowledge - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote A theory can be proved by experiment - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
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- Albert Einstein - context of quote That is relativity - Large image (800 x 600 px)
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- Albert Einstein - context of quote “Why is the electron negative?” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “Why is the electron negative?” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “The formulation of a problem is often far more essential than its solution” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “The formulation of a problem is often far more essential than its solution” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “Our exalted technological progress” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “Our exalted technological progress” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “There exists a passion for comprehension” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “There exists a passion for comprehension” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “An equation is for eternity” - Medium image (500 x 350 px)
- Albert Einstein - context of quote “An equation is for eternity” - Large image (800 x 600 px)
- Subtle Is the Lord: The Science and the Life of Albert Einstein, by Abraham Pais. - book suggestion.
- Booklist for Albert Einstein.