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Don’t think everything famed physicist Albert Einstein wrote is as complex as his theory of relativity. He’s credited with many discoveries beyond the relationship between space and time.
One of his concepts, that doesn’t receive much mention, is his theory of happiness. Yet, this joyful, little theory of his is so easy to understand and apply.
Back in 2017, an inspirational paper he wrote on a piece of hotel stationary, while he was visiting Tokyo, fetched an amazing $1.56 million at a Jerusalem auction.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia
The handwritten note says, “A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.”
According to the Winner’s Auctions and Exhibitions, the little note was expected to sell for only between $5,000 and $8,000. But these few words on true happiness rapidly inspired six figures out of bidders.
Another one of his notes which reads, “Where there’s a will there’s a way,” brought in $240,000, after an estimated selling price of $6,000.
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The story is back in 1922, Einstein stayed at the Imperial Hotel while on a lecture tour in Tokyo. He had only just heard he had won the Nobel Prize. A bellboy came to his room to deliver a message. But, there was a problem with the tip—either Einstein had no money on him or only had large bills, or the bellboy refused the tip, which customarily happens.
Einstein didn’t want to let the bellboy go away without something for his trouble and he knew his name was about to blow up. So, he wrote down these notes and gave them to the boy, saying, “If you are lucky, the notes themselves will someday be worth more than some spare change.”
Photo Credit: PublicDomainPictures.net
The German seller (who, along with the buyer, is remaining anonymous) says he’s the grandson of the bellboy’s brother.
As usual, Einstein was right. The notes became incredibly valuable financially. But, they also point to the way he lived—calmly, thoughtfully and willingly.
Happily.
