I then advised the lady in charge of the lodging house to tell them that I begged them to excuse my absence, an urgent matter having obliged me to leave. When she told this story, they understood. They conscientiously ate everything on the table. Then, knowing how I detested tobacco in any form, they began to smoke like persons possessed, Einstein his pipe and Habicht his thick cigars. They put the butts and smoldering pipe dumpings into a saucer and dumped the table, chairs, dishes, forks, cups, teapot, sugar bowl and a number of books on the bed; finally, they pinned to the wall a sheet of paper on which they had written: Amico carissimo fumum spissum et salutem (thick smoke and a greeting to a very dear friend).
After attending a musical event, I usually stroll around for a little while mulling over what I have heard and memorizing the themes, variations, etc. That was what I did after the recital given by the Czech Quartet. I walked slowly through the streets until around one o’clock in the morning. When I returned home and opened the door to my room. I thought that I would suffocate because of the heavy tobacco smoke. I threw the window wide open and began to remove from the bed the heap that reached almost to the ceiling. When I finally went to bed, the pillows and draperies reeked so strongly of the horrid tobacco fumes that I could not close my eyes. It was almost dawn before I managed to go to sleep.
When I went to Einstein’s place for dinner and our “academic” meeting the next evening, he took one look at me, frowned, and shouted: “Wretch! You dare miss a regular meeting and listen to violin playing? Barbarian! Boor! If you ever again indulge in such folly, you will be excluded and shamefully expelled from the Academy.”
Since the previous meeting had not been held because of my absence, this evening’s session lasted until one o’clock in the morning.
After Einstein received his license, he married Mileva Maric, a young Serbian girl whom he had met at the Polytechnical School where she was studying. This event occasioned no change in our meetings. Mileva, intelligent and reserved, listened attentively but never intervened in our discussions.
After our “academic” meetings during the summer, we sometimes went up on Gurten, a sprawling mountain located south of Berne, to see the sunrise. The sight of the twinkling stars made a strong impression on us and led to discussions of astronomical questions. We would reach the summit at dawn and marvel at the sun as it came slowly toward the horizon and finally appeared in all its splendor to bathe the Alps in a mystic rose. We would wait for the restaurant located there to open, drink dark coffee and start our downward trek, arriving at the foot of the mountain around nine o’clock, dead tired but very happy.
We also went on hikes to Thun, a town located some thirty kilometers from Berne. We would leave at six o’clock in the morning and reach Thun around noon. Our view of the Alps occasioned discussions of their formation and structure and of geological problems in general. After breakfast, we would stay on the banks of Lake Thun until evening and return to Berne by train.
Such was the full and interesting intellectual life that we led for more than three years. Smitten by the desire to assimilate the culture of France, which has always exerted a strong attraction on Rumanians, I left Einstein in November, 1906, to study at the University of Lyons. I was saddened by the thought of being far from him and denied the pleasure of being present at our incomparable meetings, which ended with my departure and that of Habicht, who had left Berne several months before me. I have always been astounded by the fact that Einstein, crowned with renown and honors, still harbored nostalgic memories of our meetings.
I loved him and admired him profoundly for his basic goodness, his intellectual genius and his indomitable moral courage. In contrast to the lamentable vacillation that characterizes most so-called intellectuals, he fought tirelessly against injustice and evil. He will live in the memory of future generations not only as a scientific genius of exceptional stature but also as an epitome of moral greatness. His portrait is deeply etched in my mind and, strangely moved, I whisper these words of Epicurus:
Sweet is the memory of a departed friend.
M. Solovine
Berne, Friday
May 3, 1906
Dear Solovine,
I often think of you and wonder from time to time what you are doing and how you spend your days. I am writing you because of this and something else which has come up.
A few days ago a patent attorney to whom I had previously mentioned your name came to me with a document which was to be translated into flawless French. Naturally, I did not accept, for the matter was urgent. But I want to ask you if you are leading a satisfactory existence now. If not, here you still have a definite opportunity to find employment in the patent office and eventually work up to a good position. Write soon and let me know what you think of it.
All three of us are fine. The filius has already become a haughty, impertinent young chap. At the moment, I myself am not achieving many results from the scientific point of view, and soon I shall reach the stagnant and sterile age at which the revolutionary mentality of youth is deplored. My works are highly esteemed and are giving rise to further research. Professor Planck (Berlin) has written to me recently concerning this.
I have again moved , this time back to Kirchenfeld (Aegertenstr. 53). Since you have been gone, in my private life I have had nothing at all to do with anyone. Even my conversations with Besso on the way home have stopped, and I have heard absolutely nothing more from Habicht. I was pleased to learn from Besso that you successfully finished your examination. It is to be hoped that this will mean a more comfortable material existence for you.
My cordial regards to you and write soon to,
Yours,
A. Einstein
My wife and Mr. Besso send friendly greetings.
August 15, 1908
Dear Solo,
I offer my heartfelt congratulations on your position. You can not imagine how glad I am to know that you are getting along well.
My very best while vacationing.
Your
Einstein
Mileva and Bubi Einstein also send you cordial greetings.
Berne, Thursday
December 3, 1908
Dear Solo,
Your apologies, though very gracefully tendered, are still bad. Here we can probably spend sleepless nights no less magnificently than the sleepless academic half-nights which I fondly recall. Your excuses are not accepted, but your unqualified acceptance is awaited.
Cordial regards from
Your
A. Einstein
Berne
March 18, 1909
Dear Solovine,
I was elated over your friendly greeting. Yesterday a young Japanese who is going to Paris came to me. I sent him to you, thinking that you would certainly be glad to meet him. When will you ever come to Berne? You can never imagine how often I think of you and how glad I would be to see you. Cordial greetings from my sister and her Pauli.
With friendly regards
Your
A. Einstein
My wife and Bujo also send their best greetings.
Hofstr. 116
Zurich
[Spring, 1913]
Dear Solovine,
I am very glad that we shall be able to stroll around in Paris. If only I did not have to give this lecture which—horribile dictu—I must give in French.
With best regards,
Your
A. Einstein
W 30
Berlin
April 24, 1920
Dear Solovine,
I am very glad to learn that you intend to write something about my theory. I myself have prepared a summary which I am sending to you; aside from that, I have only the original drafts of essays that are, unfortunately, out of print. Books which I recommend for scientific libraries are Weyl’s Time, Space, Matter and Schlick’s Space and Time in Physics Today (both published by Springer, Berlin), along with another volume entitled The Principle of Relativity and published by Teubner; t
he third edition of the latter work, soon to appear, will contain the most important of the original essays on the general theory of relativity. I will be glad to read through your manuscript.
Mileva is in good health; I am separated from her; the children are with her in Zurich, Gloriastr. 59. Albert is quite robust; the little one is unfortunately rather sickly.
Besso has roamed through different countries of the world but is again at the Patent Office in Berne. Paul Winteler and my sister are still living happily in Lucerne.
I am very glad to have heard from you again on this occasion; I wish you success in your undertaking.
Best regards from your
A. Einstein
[Undated]
The contents and method of the theory of relativity can, despite the variety of experimental physical facts on which the theory is based, be outlined in a few words. In contrast to the fact, known since ancient times, that movement is perceptible only as relative movement, physics was based on the notion of absolute movement. Optics had assumed that one state of movement, luminous ether, is distinct from all others. All movements of bodies were supposed to be related to the luminous ether, which was the incarnation of absolute motionlessness. If a fixed formal luminous ether filled everything in space, then the movements of bodies would be related to it and one could in this physical sense speak of “absolute movement” and ground mechanics on this notion. But after efforts to discover the privileged state of movement of this hypothetical luminous ether through physical experiments had failed, it seemed that the problem should be restated. That is what the theory of relativity did systematically. It assumed that there are no privileged physical states of movement and asked what consequences could be drawn from this supposition concerning the laws of nature. The method of the theory of relativity is analogous to the method of thermodynamics; for the latter is nothing more than the systematic answer to the question: how must the laws of nature be constructed in order to rule out the possibility of bringing about perpetual motion?
A further characteristic of the theory of relativity is an epistemological point of view. In physics no concept is necessary or justifiable on an a priori basis. A concept acquires a right to existence solely through its obvious and unequivocal place in a chain of events relating to physical experiences. That is why the theory of relativity rejects concepts of absolute simultaneity, absolute speed, absolute acceleration, etc.; they can have no unequivocal link with experiences. Similarly, the notions of “plane,” and “straight line,” and the like, which form the basis of Euclidian geometry, had to be discarded. Every physical concept must be defined in such a way that it can be used to determine in principle whether or not it fits the concrete case.
Against the concept of an infinite spatial world and in favor of a finite spatial world, this much can be said:
(1) From the point of view of the theory of relativity, it is much simpler to conceive of a finite spatial world than a quasi-Euclidian world bounded by infinite space.
(2) Mach’s supposition that inertia depends on the reciprocal action of bodies is approximated in the equations of the theory of relativity; from these equations it follows that inertia depends, partly at least, on the reciprocal action of masses. Mach’s supposition is therefore well founded, for it is hardly appropriate to suppose that inertia depends partly on reciprocal action and partly on the independent properties of space. But Mach’s supposition calls for a finite spatial world, not a quasi-Euclidian infinite world. In short, from the epistemological point of view it is better to have the mechanical properties of space wholly determined by matter, and this obtains only if the world is spatially finite.
(3) An infinite world is possible only if the average density of its matter is lost. Such a supposition is logically possible, to be sure, but it is less probable than the supposition that the world’s matter has an average finite density.
March 8, 1921
Dear Solovine,
Thank you for the cheerful report. But are you collecting the 10% per copy which I had intended for you? If not, then simply keep for yourself one-third of the sum (20%) due me. I can tell by your question that you have been very conscientious about the translation. For that reason I am writing to offer you the exclusive translation right and promise always to place at your disposal whatever I decide to have translated into French. Just how do mathematical writings fit into the picture? I approve of the contract.
That abominable X… falsified my foreword by inserting letters—without my permission—which came, not directly from me, but from an acquaintance of mine whom he had showered with French comeliness. You would be rendering me a great service if you could help me expose the blackguard publicly.* Soon you will receive a short lecture and supplement to be translated. You may be surprised to learn that I have to ask the Academy for permission to have it translated. Perhaps those chauvinists will allow me to publish this nonsense in French.
I am not eager to go to America but am doing it solely in the interest of the Zionists, who must beg for dollars to build educational institutions in Jerusalem, and for whom I act as high priest and decoy. If we were at all interchangeable, I would gladly send you in my place. But I am really doing whatever I can for the brothers of my race who are treated so badly everywhere. I am sure that we would understand each other perfectly if we met again. I do not think that all this undeserved incense has blackened my soul. I regret that I failed to give you my little book to translate too. But how could I have done so? If I could do something to put that wretched X… in his place, I would not hesitate. Write me here. Perhaps it is still possible, before the trip. If necessary, I will have it forwarded. I am leaving here on March 21. Leave out the titles of the Leyde lectures—just do whatever you think best.
Most cordial greetings,
Your
A. Einstein
* * *
*I have not read the book by X… and therefore do not know whether it has any merit.
March 16, 1921
Dear Solovine,
I am returning the signed contracts (Gauthier-Villars) to you. Please send the money to Professor Ehrenfest, Witte Rozenstr., Leyde, and indicate that it is for me. I am doing this because I need a considerable amount of money in other countries, especially in Holland and Switzerland, and this arrangement simplifies matters. I have the permission of the Academy. I am leaving this Sunday, with the result that none of your letters will reach me here. In two months I hope to be back here. If I give any lectures in science, it will probably be at Princeton University, where I was first invited. If you wish to send letters to me in America, please address them to the Kuhn Loeb Bank in New York.
Dear Solovine! Neither am I a flagwaver, and I believe firmly that the Jews, considering the smallness and dependency of their colony in Palestine, are not threatened by the folly of power.
Dear Solovine! I would like to talk longer with you, but I am like a hare at bay and must use the minutes sparingly. Meanwhile, I send you my cordial regards.
Your
A. Einstein
March 19, 1921
Dear Solovine,
Many thanks for the splendid article and your proposal. But I myself can not write for a newspaper. That is against my most cherished principles and practices. I could express my opinion only if someone asked me a question, but that is now too late, for I am leaving the day after tomorrow. Besides, you misunderstood me. I wrote no foreword for X…, but he committed a forgery, using among other things, of course, some sentences from one of my letters. I would be pleased to have this circumstance known.
With warmest regards to you,
Your
A. Einstein
Berlin
January 14, 1922
Dear Solovine,
Much work and the horror of writing books make it impossible for me to write what you wish. Soon you will receive my Princeton lectures. They can not be published, however, until they have appeared in America. Terms to the publisher are 20% of the
selling price, of which you will receive 5% and I the rest.
With cordial regards
Your
A. Einstein
It would be better for you to write to Mrs. Untermayer in English to show her that you know the language. But you should also let her know that you understand German and French better. You should also tell her that, when we were youngsters, we stayed side by side for a long time and studied together. A firm approach is indispensable everywhere in America; otherwise one receives no pay and little esteem.
Berlin W. 30
Haberlandstr.5
March 14, 1922
Dear Solovine,
How glad I will be to see you again in Paris! I am to arrive on March 27 or 28. Langevin has made arrangements for a hideout, but I beg you to keep it a deep secret, for the days that I spend in Paris are going to be very trying.
Concerning the provisional contract with Gauthier-Villars, I have two reservations:
(1) The paragraph which I designated as b must be deleted since I am naturally giving him only the French publishing rights.
(2) The paragraph marked a makes no sense to me.
Letters to Solovine: 1906-1955 Page 2