This short essay taken
from Albert Einstein's book The
World as I See It p. 7.
It is right in principle
that those should be the best loved who have contributed most to the elevation
of the human race and human life. But, if one goes on to ask who they are, one
finds oneself in no inconsiderable difficulties.
In the case of political,
and even of religious, leaders, it is often very doubtful whether they have
done more good or harm. Hence I most seriously believe that one does people the
best service by giving them some elevating work to do and thus indirectly
elevating them. This applies most of all to the great artist, but also in a
lesser degree, to the scientist.
To be sure, it is not
the fruits of scientific research that elevate a man and enrich his nature, but
the urge to understand, the intellectual work, creative or receptive. It would
surely be absurd to judge the value of the Talmud, for instance, by its
intellectual fruits.
The true value of a
human being is determined primarily
by the measure and the sense in which he has attained to liberation from the
self.
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