This chapter presents the life story of a beautiful mind Albert Einstein, showing him as a human being with his own likes, dislikes, streaks of rebellion, and problems. It demonstrates how a fairly ordinary person became recognized as a genius through his groundbreaking work in physics. The story also explores Einstein’s personal life, his struggles, achievements, and his role as a world citizen.

Before You Read

Who do you think of when you hear the word ‘genius’? Who is a genius and what qualities do you think a genius has?

We shall now read about a young German civil servant who took the world by storm about a hundred years ago. In the summer of 1905, the 26-year-old published in quick succession four ground-breaking papers about light, the motion of particles, the electrodynamics of moving bodies, and energy. His work took up only a few pages in scientific journals, but changed forever our understanding of space, time and the entire cosmos and transformed the name ‘Einstein’ into a synonym for genius.

Fifty years after his death, Albert Einstein’s genius still reigns.

The Story of Einstein

Early Childhood – An Unusual Beginning

Albert Einstein was born on 14 March 1879 in the German city of Ulm, without any indication that he was destined for greatness. On the contrary, his mother thought Albert was a freak (a word used disapprovingly to talk about a person who is unusual and doesn’t behave, look or think like others). To her, his head seemed much too large.

At the age of two-and-a-half, Einstein still wasn’t talking. When he finally did learn to speak, he uttered everything twice. Einstein did not know what to do with other children, and his playmates called him “Brother Boring.” So the youngster played by himself much of the time. He especially loved mechanical toys.

An Interesting Anecdote

Otto Neugebauer, the historian of ancient mathematics, told a story about the boy Einstein that he characterizes as a “legend”, but that seems fairly authentic. As he was a late talker, his parents were worried. At last, at the supper table one night, he broke his silence to say, “The soup is too hot.” Greatly relieved, his parents asked why he had never said a word before. Albert replied, “Because up to now everything was in order.”

Looking at his newborn sister Maja:
When Einstein saw his newborn sister Maja, he is said to have said: “Fine, but where are her wheels?” This shows his fascination with mechanical things even as a child.

School Years – Struggles and Strengths

A headmaster once told his father that what Einstein chose as a profession wouldn’t matter, because “he’ll never make a success at anything.” Einstein began learning to play the violin at the age of six, because his mother wanted him to. He later became a gifted amateur violinist (doing something for personal enjoyment rather than as a profession), maintaining this skill throughout his life.

But Albert Einstein was not a bad pupil. He went to high school in Munich, where Einstein’s family had moved when he was 15 months old, and scored good marks in almost every subject. Einstein hated the school’s regimentation (order or discipline taken to an extreme), and often clashed with his teachers. At the age of 15, Einstein felt so stifled (unable to breathe; suffocated) there that he left the school for good.

Moving to Switzerland

The previous year, Albert’s parents had moved to Milan, and left their son with relatives. After prolonged discussion, Einstein got his wish to continue his education in German-speaking Switzerland, in a city which was more liberal (willing to understand and respect others’ opinions) than Munich.

Einstein was highly gifted in mathematics and interested in physics, and after finishing school, he decided to study at a university in Zurich. But science wasn’t the only thing that appealed to the dashing young man with the walrus moustache.

Meeting Mileva Maric

He also felt a special interest in a fellow student, Mileva Maric, whom he found to be a “clever creature.” This young Serb had come to Switzerland because the University in Zurich was one of the few in Europe where women could get degrees. Einstein saw in her an ally (a friend or an associate) against the “philistines” — those people in his family and at the university with whom he was constantly at odds.

The couple fell in love. Letters survive in which they put their affection into words, mixing science with tenderness. Wrote Einstein: “How happy and proud I shall be when we both have brought our work on relativity to a victorious conclusion.”

Early Career – The Patent Office Years

In 1900, at the age of 21, Albert Einstein was a university graduate and unemployed. He worked as a teaching assistant, gave private lessons and finally secured a job in 1902 as a technical expert in the patent office in Bern. While he was supposed to be assessing other people’s inventions, Einstein was actually developing his own ideas in secret. He is said to have jokingly called his desk drawer at work the “bureau of theoretical physics.”

The Miracle Year – 1905

One of the famous papers of 1905 was Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, according to which time and distance are not absolute (measured in comparison with others). Indeed, two perfectly accurate clocks will not continue to show the same time if they come together again after a journey if one of them has been moving very fast relative to the other.

From this followed the world’s most famous formula which describes the relationship between mass and energy:

E = mc²

(In this mathematical equation, E stands for energy, m for mass and c for the speed of light in a vacuum (about 300,000 km/s).)

Einstein’s explanation of relativity:
“When you sit with a nice girl for two hours, it seems like two minutes. When you sit on a hot stove for two minutes, it seems like two hours — that’s relativity.”
— ALBERT EINSTEIN

Personal Life – Marriage and Divorce

While Einstein was solving the most difficult problems in physics, his private life was unravelling (starting to fail). Albert had wanted to marry Mileva right after finishing his studies, but his mother was against it. She thought Mileva, who was three years older than her son, was too old for him. She was also bothered by Mileva’s intelligence. “She is a book like you,” his mother said. Einstein put the wedding off.

The pair finally married in January 1903, and had two sons. But a few years later, the marriage faltered (became weak). Mileva, meanwhile, was losing her intellectual ambition and becoming an unhappy housewife. After years of constant fighting, the couple finally divorced in 1919. Einstein married his cousin Elsa the same year.

Rise to Fame – General Theory of Relativity

Einstein’s new personal chapter coincided with his rise to world fame. In 1915, he had published his General Theory of Relativity, which provided a new interpretation of gravity. An eclipse of the sun in 1919 brought proof that it was accurate. Einstein had correctly calculated in advance the extent to which the light from fixed stars would be deflected (changed direction because it hit something) through the sun’s gravitational field. The newspapers proclaimed his work as “a scientific revolution.”

Einstein received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. He was showered with honours and invitations from all over the world, and lauded by the press.

Emigration to America – Escape from Nazis

When the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, Einstein emigrated to the United States. Five years later, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists in an uproar (very upset). Many of them had fled from Fascism, just as Einstein had, and now they were afraid the Nazis could build and use an atomic bomb.

The Letter to Roosevelt – Warning About Atomic Bomb

At the urging of a colleague, Einstein wrote a letter to the American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, on 2 August 1939, in which he warned: “A single bomb of this type exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory.” His words did not fail to have an effect. The Americans developed the atomic bomb in a secret project of their own, and dropped it on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

Reaction to Bombing – Peace Activism

Einstein was deeply shaken by the extent of the destruction. This time he wrote a public missive (letter, especially long and official) to the United Nations. In it he proposed the formation of a world government. Unlike the letter to Roosevelt, this one made no impact. But over the next decade, Einstein got ever more involved in politics — agitating for an end to the arms buildup and using his popularity to campaign for peace and democracy.

Death and Legacy

When Einstein died in 1955 at the age of 76, he was celebrated as a visionary (a person who can think about the future in an original and intelligent way) and world citizen as much as a scientific genius.

Thinking about the Text

I. Matching Headings with Paragraphs

Here are some headings for paragraphs in the text. Write the number(s) of the paragraph(s) for each title against the heading:

Heading	Paragraph Number
(i) Einstein’s equation	9
(ii) Einstein meets his future wife	7
(iii) The making of a violinist	3
(iv) Mileva and Einstein’s mother	10
(v) A letter that launched the arms race	15
(vi) A desk drawer full of ideas	8
(vii) Marriage and divorce	11

II. Who Had These Opinions About Einstein?

(i) He was boring.
His playmates called him “Brother Boring” because Einstein did not know what to do with other children and played by himself most of the time.

(ii) He was stupid and would never succeed in life.
A headmaster told Einstein’s father that what Einstein chose as a profession wouldn’t matter, because “he’ll never make a success at anything.”

(iii) He was a freak.
His mother thought Albert was a freak because his head seemed much too large when he was born.

III. Explain the Reasons for the Following

(i) Einstein leaving the school in Munich for good.

Einstein left the school in Munich for good because he hated the school’s regimentation (strict discipline and rules). He felt so stifled (suffocated and restricted) at the age of 15 that he could not continue there any longer. He often clashed with his teachers due to his dislike for the extreme discipline. The liberal atmosphere of Switzerland attracted him more than the strict environment of Munich.

(ii) Einstein wanting to study in Switzerland rather than in Munich.

Einstein wanted to study in Switzerland because:

Switzerland was more liberal than Munich, meaning it was willing to understand and respect others’ opinions
The atmosphere there was more open and flexible
After having prolonged discussion with his parents, he got his wish to continue his education in German-speaking Switzerland
He wanted to escape the strict regimentation that he experienced in Munich

(iii) Einstein seeing in Mileva an ally.

Einstein saw Mileva as an ally (friend or associate) because:

She was a “clever creature” who shared his intellectual interests
She was one of the few women studying at the university, which showed her independent thinking
Both of them were constantly at odds with the “philistines” — conventional people in his family and at the university
They could share their scientific ideas and support each other
They mixed science with tenderness in their relationship, as shown in their letters

(iv) What do these tell you about Einstein?

These points tell us that Einstein was:

A non-conformist who didn’t like strict rules and discipline
Independent-minded and willing to stand up for what he believed
Someone who valued intellectual companionship and liberal thinking
A person who sought freedom in his education and personal life
Someone who looked for like-minded people who could understand him
A rebel against conventional thinking and authoritarian systems

IV. What Did Einstein Call His Desk Drawer at the Patent Office? Why?

Einstein jokingly called his desk drawer at the patent office the “bureau of theoretical physics.” He called it this because while he was supposed to be assessing other people’s inventions as a technical expert, he was actually developing his own ideas in secret. He was working on his groundbreaking theories of physics in that desk drawer, which later became world-famous. This shows his sense of humor and his passion for physics even while doing a routine job.

V. Why Did Einstein Write a Letter to Franklin Roosevelt?

Einstein wrote a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt, the American President, on 2 August 1939 because:

The discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists very upset
Many physicists had fled from Fascism, just as Einstein had
They were afraid that the Nazis could build and use an atomic bomb
At the urging of a colleague, Einstein warned Roosevelt about this danger
In his letter, he warned: “A single bomb of this type exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory”
His intention was to alert the American government so they could take necessary action to prevent the Nazis from using such a weapon

VI. How Did Einstein React to the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

Einstein was deeply shaken by the extent of the destruction caused by the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. His reaction included:

He was profoundly disturbed by the massive destruction and loss of life
He wrote a public missive (official letter) to the United Nations
In this letter, he proposed the formation of a world government to prevent such destruction in the future
Unlike his letter to Roosevelt, this one made no impact
Over the next decade, he got ever more involved in politics
He agitated for an end to the arms buildup
He used his popularity to campaign for peace and democracy
His reaction showed his deep concern for humanity and his regret that his scientific work had been used for such devastating purposes

VII. Why Does the World Remember Einstein as a “World Citizen”?

The world remembers Einstein as a “world citizen” because:

He emigrated from Germany to the United States to escape the Nazis, showing he wasn’t bound to one nation
After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he proposed the formation of a world government to the United Nations
He got deeply involved in politics, agitating for an end to the arms buildup
He used his popularity to campaign for peace and democracy across the world
He worked beyond national boundaries for the welfare of humanity
When he died in 1955, he was celebrated as a visionary and world citizen as much as a scientific genius
His concerns were not limited to one country but extended to all of humanity and world peace

VIII. Arrange These Facts from Einstein’s Life in Chronological Order

Order	Event
1	Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm.
2	Einstein’s family moves to Milan.
3	Einstein attends a high school in Munich.
4	Tired of the school’s regimentation, Einstein withdraws from school.
5	Einstein joins a university in Zurich, where he meets Mileva.
6	He works in a patent office as a technical expert.
7	Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity.
8	He provides a new interpretation of gravity.
9	He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
10	When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States.
11	Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany’s building of an atomic bomb.
12	Einstein dies.

Thinking about Language

I. Choosing the Right Word

Here are some sentences from the story. Choose the word from the brackets which can be substituted for the italicised words in the sentences:

1. A few years later, the marriage faltered.
Answer: became weak

2. Einstein was constantly at odds with people at the university.
Answer: in disagreement

3. The newspapers proclaimed his work as “a scientific revolution.”
Answer: declared

4. Einstein got ever more involved in politics, agitating for an end to the arms buildup.
Answer: campaigning

5. At the age of 15, Einstein felt so stifled that he left the school for good.
Answer: permanently

6. Five years later, the discovery of nuclear fission in Berlin had American physicists in an uproar.
Answer: in a state of commotion

7. Science wasn’t the only thing that appealed to the dashing young man with the walrus moustache.
Answer: interested

II. Participial Phrases

Study the following sentences:

Einstein became a gifted amateur violinist, maintaining this skill throughout his life.
Letters survive in which they put their affection into words, mixing science with tenderness.

The parts in italics in the above sentences begin with –ing verbs, and are called participial phrases. Participial phrases say something more about the person or thing talked about or the idea expressed by the sentence as a whole.

Complete the sentences below by filling in the blanks with suitable participial clauses:

1. __________, the firefighters finally put out the fire.
Answer: Working round the clock, the firefighters finally put out the fire.

2. She watched the sunset above the mountain, __________.
Answer: She watched the sunset above the mountain, noticing the colours blending softly into one another.

3. The excited horse pawed the ground rapidly, __________.
Answer: The excited horse pawed the ground rapidly, neighing continually.

4. __________, I found myself in Bangalore, instead of Benaras.
Answer: Having taken the wrong train, I found myself in Bangalore, instead of Benaras.

5. __________, I was desperate to get to the bathroom.
Answer: Not having bathed for two days, I was desperate to get to the bathroom.

6. The stone steps, __________, needed to be replaced.
Answer: The stone steps, being worn down, needed to be replaced.

7. The actor received hundreds of letters from his fans, __________.
Answer: The actor received hundreds of letters from his fans, asking him to send them his photograph.

Writing Newspaper Reports

Here are some notes which you could use to write a report:

Notes:

21 August 2005
original handwritten manuscript of Albert Einstein unearthed
by student Rowdy Boeynik in the University of the Netherlands
Boeynik researching papers belonging to an old friend of Einstein
fingerprints of Einstein on these papers
16-page document dated 1924
Einstein’s work on this last theory
behaviour of atoms at low temperature
now known as the Bose-Einstein condensation
the manuscript to be kept at Leyden University where Einstein got the Nobel Prize

Sample Report

Student Unearths Einstein Manuscript

By a Staff Reporter

Netherlands, 21 August 2005: An original handwritten Albert Einstein manuscript has been unearthed at a university in the Netherlands. The document was discovered by student Rowdy Boeynik who was researching papers belonging to an old friend of Einstein.

The 16-page document, dated 1924, contains Einstein’s work on his last theory about the behaviour of atoms at low temperature. The manuscript bears Einstein’s fingerprints, confirming its authenticity. This theory is now known as the Bose-Einstein condensation.

The rare manuscript will be kept at Leyden University, the very place where Einstein received the Nobel Prize. This discovery adds to our understanding of Einstein’s later scientific work and provides valuable insight into his research methods.

Dictation

Paragraph 1:
In 1931 Charlie Chaplin invited Albert Einstein, who was visiting Hollywood, to a private screening of his new film, City Lights. As the two men drove into town together, passersby waved and cheered. Chaplin turned to his guest and explained: “The people are applauding you because none of them understands you and applauding me because everybody understands me.”

Paragraph 2:
One of Einstein’s colleagues asked him for his telephone number one day. Einstein reached for a telephone directory and looked it up. “You don’t remember your own number?” the man asked, startled.

“No,” Einstein answered. “Why should I memorise something I can so easily get from a book?” (In fact, Einstein claimed never to memorise anything which could be looked up in less than two minutes.)

The Lake Isle of Innisfree – Complete Notes

This well-known poem by William Butler Yeats explores the poet’s longing for the peace and tranquillity of Innisfree, a place where he spent a lot of time as a boy. This poem is a lyric that expresses personal feelings and emotions.

The Poem

Stanza 1:
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

Stanza 2:
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evenings full of the linnet’s wings.

Stanza 3:
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear the lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

Glossary

Word/Phrase	Meaning
wattles	twisted sticks for making fences, walls
glade	clearing; open space
linnet	a small brown and grey bird with a short beak

Thinking about the Poem

I. Understanding Innisfree

1. What kind of place is Innisfree?

Think about:

(i) The three things the poet wants to do when he goes back there (stanza I):

Build a small cabin made of clay and wattles (twisted sticks)
Have nine bean-rows for growing beans
Keep a hive for the honeybee
Live alone in the bee-loud glade (a clearing full of the sound of bees)

These activities show Innisfree as a simple, natural place where the poet can live a peaceful, self-sufficient life close to nature.

(ii) What he hears and sees there and its effect on him (stanza II):

What he experiences:

Peace comes dropping slow
Peace drops from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings
Midnight is all a glimmer (soft light)
Noon has a purple glow
Evenings are full of the linnet’s wings (filled with the sound and sight of small birds)

Effect on him: These sights and sounds bring him deep peace and tranquillity. The slow, gentle arrival of peace, the soft lights at different times of day, and the natural sounds create a calming, meditative atmosphere.

(iii) What he hears in his “heart’s core” even when he is far away from Innisfree (stanza III):

Even when he stands on the roadway or on the pavements grey (in the city), he hears:

The lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore
This sound stays with him always, night and day
He hears it in the deep heart’s core, meaning it’s a permanent part of his innermost being

This shows how deeply Innisfree is embedded in his heart and memory.

2. How does the poet contrast Innisfree with where he now stands?

The poet creates a sharp contrast:

Innisfree:

Natural setting with cabin, beans, bees, glade
Full of peace, glimmer, purple glow, cricket songs, birds
Lake water with gentle lapping sounds
Described with rich, colorful imagery

Where he stands now (Read stanza III):

Roadway or pavements grey
Urban setting suggested by grey pavements
No mention of nature, peace, or beauty
Cold, colorless, lifeless description

The grey pavements represent the dull, monotonous city life, while Innisfree represents vibrant, peaceful natural life. The contrast emphasizes his longing to escape the city and return to nature.

3. Do you think Innisfree is only a place, or a state of mind? Does the poet actually miss the place of his boyhood days?

Innisfree is both a real place and a state of mind:

As a Real Place:

The poet spent time there as a boy
It has specific features like the lake, the shore, the glade
It represents his boyhood days

As a State of Mind:

It symbolizes peace, tranquillity, freedom, and connection with nature
It represents an ideal life away from the complexities of modern urban existence
He carries it in his “deep heart’s core” — it’s part of his inner being
The peace of Innisfree is something he longs for even when physically far away

Does he actually miss the place?
Yes, the poet deeply misses the place of his boyhood days. The repetition of “I will arise and go now” shows his strong desire to return. The fact that he hears the lake water constantly, even in the city, shows how much he misses it. Innisfree represents not just a physical location but also the simpler, more peaceful time of his childhood.

II. Poetic Language and Imagery

1. Look at the words the poet uses to describe what he sees and hears at Innisfree:

(i) bee-loud glade

This phrase creates a vivid picture in the mind:

A clearing (glade) full of the buzzing sound of bees
The sound is so prominent that it defines the place
Suggests abundance of nature, active life, honey production
Creates an auditory image of continuous, gentle humming

(ii) evenings full of the linnet’s wings

This creates multiple sensory images:

Visual image of many small birds (linnets) flying in the evening sky
The fluttering of wings creates movement and life
Suggests the peaceful time of dusk when birds are active
Creates a sense of freedom and natural beauty

(iii) lake water lapping with low sounds

This creates a soothing auditory image:

Gentle sound of water touching the shore
Repetitive, rhythmic, peaceful sound
“Low sounds” suggests soft, calming noise
Creates a meditative, peaceful atmosphere

2. Look at these words:

“… peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings”

What do these words mean to you?

These words create a beautiful image of peace arriving gradually and gently:

“Dropping slow” suggests peace comes bit by bit, not all at once
Like dew drops falling slowly from morning mist
“Veils of the morning” refers to the thin mist or light of early morning
Peace descends from the sky down to the earth where crickets sing
The image suggests that peace is a natural phenomenon at Innisfree, as natural as morning dew

What do you think “comes dropping slow…from the veils of the morning”?

This could mean:

Peace descends slowly like morning dew or mist
The gentle arrival of daylight bringing calmness
The gradual lifting of darkness, revealing peace
Morning mist clearing slowly to reveal the peaceful landscape
A spiritual or meditative quality of peace arriving with the morning

What does “to where the cricket sings” mean?

This means:

Peace reaches down to the ground level where crickets live and sing
From the sky (morning veils) down to earth (where crickets are)
Suggests peace pervades the entire space from sky to ground
Cricket’s song is part of this peaceful atmosphere
The natural world is filled with peace at all levels

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