The year was 1922, a few years before WWI’s completion. The 20s were the era of revival and rebirth; new definitions were determined, a new savoir-faire, without the resistance from society. We were finally detached from propriety.
These thoughts may have crossed the mind of physicist Albert Einstein during the surrealist movement of the early 20th century. Similar thoughts consumed the minds of civilians during the 1900’s, salubrious and stimulating. How do we determine happy living and humble beginnings?
Shortly after the announcement of the Noble Prize attainment through a telegram, Einstein, en route from the University of Berlin to Japan, caused a réclame upon his arrival in Tokyo, where he would deliver lectures. He eventually missed the Noble Prize ceremony in Stockholm during the winter of that year.
Upon his stay, a messenger came to his room at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. As Einstein did not have a tip available, he instead handed him two transcribed notes on the official letterhead of the Imperial Hotel, stating, “Maybe if you’re lucky those notes will become much more valuable than just a regular tip.” How true, and unprecedented.
One of the notes read, “A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.” The note was estimated to sell for $8,00 but conclusively sold for $1,560,000.
Another note read, “Where there’s a will there’s a way.” Estimated to sell for $6,000, sold for $240,000.
These thoughts presumably were a result of the publicity he received upon his arrival in Tokyo. Perhaps a feeling of overwhelming joy and gratitude. Although Einstein succeeded in the theory of relativity and scholarly achievements, his notes, the private thoughts of a reputed genius, suggest notoriety doesn’t result in happiness.
“It is impossible to determine if the notes were a reflection of Einstein’s own musings on his growing fame,” said Roni Grosz, the archivist in charge of the world’s largest Einstein collection, at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University.
“What we’re doing here is painting the portrait of Einstein—the man, the scientist, his effect on the world—through his handwritten writings,” said Mr. Grosz. “This is a stone in the mosaic.”
Ninety-five years later, these lost memoirs were sold at the Winner’s auction house in Jerusalem, a place close to Einstein in his support for Israeli art. The buyer of one of these liberalizing notes was a resident of Hamburg, who wished to remain anonymous. The seller of one of the notes was said to be the nephew of the messenger.
Featured image via Menahem Kahana, Source: AFP
