The Entangled Universe » 56 Albert Einstein best quotes

56 Albert Einstein best quotes: "Quotes by Albert Einstein:

1 “Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction.”
2 “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
3 “Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.”
4 “I want to know God’s thoughts; the rest are details.”
5 “The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.”
6 “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”
7 “The only real valuable thing is intuition.”
8 “A person starts to live when he can live outside himself.”
9 “I am convinced that He (God) does not play dice.”
10 “God is subtle but he is not malicious.”
11 “Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.”
12 “I never think of the future. It comes soon enough.”
13 “The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility.”
14 “Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing.”
15 “Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.”
16 “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.”
17 “Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds.”
18 “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
19 “Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.”
20 “Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one’s living at it.”
21 “The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.”
22 “The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.”
23 “God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically.”
24 “The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking.”
25 “Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal.”
26 “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.”
27 “The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.”
28 “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
29 “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.”
30 “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
31 “Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.”
32 “Equations are more important to me, because politics is for the present, but an equation is something for eternity.”
33 “If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.”
34 “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.”
35 “As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality.”
36 “Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods.”
37 “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
38 “In order to form an immaculate member of a flock of sheep one must, above all, be a sheep.”
39 “The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there’s no risk of accident for someone who’s dead.”
40 “Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves.”
41 “Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism — how passionately I hate them!”
42 “No, this trick won’t work…How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?”
43 “My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind.”
44 “Yes, we have to divide up our time like that, between our politics and our equations. But to me our equations are far more important, for politics are only a matter of present concern. A mathematical equation stands forever.”
45 “The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking…the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker.”
46 “Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.”
47 “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”
48 “A man’s ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would in deeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.”
49 “The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge.”
50 “Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.”
51 “You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat.”
52 “One had to cram all this stuff into one’s mind for the examinations, whether one liked it or not. This coercion had such a deterring effect on me that, after I had passed the final examination, I found the consideration of any scientific problems distasteful to me for an entire year.”
53 “…one of the strongest motives that lead men to art and science is escape from everyday life with its painful crudity and hopeless dreariness, from the fetters of one’s own ever-shifting desires. A finely tempered nature longs to escape from the personal life into the world of objective perception and thought.”
54 “He who joyfully marches to music rank and file, has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder.”
55 “A human being is a part of a whole, called by us _universe_, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest… a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
56 “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” (Sign hanging in Einstein’s office at Princeton)"

100 Simple Ways to Change Your Life for the Better | Nerds Do It Better

100 Simple Ways to Change Your Life for the Better | Nerds Do It Better: "1. Eat breakfast every morning: Eating breakfast is important for your health and mental power, supplying essential vitamins, minerals, and energy for your day.
2. Get a good night’s rest: You just can’t have a happy and productive life if you’re tired all of the time, so get some quality shut eye.
3. Drink water: Step up your water intake to lose weight, feel better, and improve your skin.
4. Eat slowly: Slow down when you eat, and you’ll find that you consume less while still feeling satisfied.
5. Cut down on junk food: Junk food has a nasty way of bringing your health down, so avoid it whenever possible, opting instead for healthy food like fresh fruits and vegetables.
6. Practice good dental hygiene: Researchers have found that dental hygiene is important for more than cosmetic reasons-it can help you chew food and even avoid heart disease.
7. Drink tea: Be sure to check out the powerhouse of benefits that tea can deliver, which includes improved memory and prevention of ills such as cavities, cancer, and heart disease.
8. Get some exercise: Whether you need to lose weight or not, exercise will have a positive effect on your overall health and quality of life.
9. Improve your energy: If you’re feeling sluggish all day, chances are you’re just not going to feel good about yourself. So take a few steps to boost your energy, and you’ll be better in your daily life.
10. Intensify your workouts: Researchers have found that by doing more intense workouts, you can enjoy similar benefits that you would with a more relaxed workout for a longer period of time.
11. Enjoy fish a few times a week: Eat fish, and you’ll get a serving of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce heart disease.
12. Wear better shoes: Don’t torture your toes with restrictive shoes all the time-limit the amount of time you spend in uncomfortable shoes.
13. Protect your skin: Stay out of the sun to avoid skin damage, or use sunblock to help.
14. Eat at home: It’s easier and cheaper to prepare healthy foods on your own at home, and skillfully cooking a meal is sure to impress just about anyone.
15. Get tested for prediabetes: Diabetes is a disease that many Americans are susceptible to, and by discovering it early on you can prevent it or lessen its impact.
16. Take a daily walk: Get a little bit of movement and clear your mind with a walk every day.
17. Lose weight: One of the best things you can do for your health and overall quality of life is to shed a few pounds.

Social Take these steps to change your social life for the better.

18. Join a book club: Get some social interaction while improving your knowledge with a book club.
19. Get out of the house: Believe it or not, the world just isn’t going to come to you. You’ve got to get out of your 'zone' for social interaction.
20. Volunteer: For a rewarding social experience, look into volunteer opportunities.
21. Ignore minor irritations: Whether it’s some jerk in traffic, or incessant Facebook application requests, some things just aren’t worth dealing with.
22. Start a blog: Spark an online discussion and network with new people through a blog.
23. Talk to strangers: Don’t hesitate to spark a conversation with someone you don’t know-you just might enjoy yourself, or even make a new friend.
24. Don’t stereotype or label people: Avoid dismissing people based on factors you don’t fully understand, and you may find that they have something to offer you.
25. Call old friends: You’d be surprised how many people would be overjoyed to hear from you, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve seen them.
26. Go to church: Make new friends and get in touch with your spiritual side at church or temple.
27. Host a party: Spend some time with good friends and enjoy yourself at home by inviting others over for a party.
28. Enjoy a hobby: Having a regular, relaxing activity will bring you joy.
29. Join a club: Whether you’re into board games or photography, there’s a group out there for you.

Emotional Improve your emotional life with these simple strategies.

30. Make an effort to be happy: Whether you actually feel happy or not, make it a point to attempt happiness. It will help you feel better, as well as others around you.
31. Consider religion: If you’re not a spiritual person, consider becoming more involved with religion to improve your emotional well-being.
32. Stop taking things personally: Although it may seem to the contrary, know that not everyone is out to make your life harder.
33. Be optimistic: Put a positive spin on things and feel better about the future. This inludes staying positive about your romantic prospects.
34. Know when to lose sleep: Sometimes, you have more important things to do than sleep, but they key is knowing when that should happen.
35. Step out of your comfort zone: Make it a point to step out of your comfort zone once in awhile. It’s a great way to advance yourself.
36. Get rid of ill-fitting clothing: Clothes that don’t fit right will just make you look bad and feel worse about yourself. If you love a piece, but it just doesn’t look good, consider getting it tailored.
37. Spend time with a child: Look at the world through a child’s eyes and get inspired. You’ll learn to appreciate simple things and see life with excitement.
38. Pamper yourself: Take care of yourself, whether that means getting a pint of ice cream now and then, or just getting a spa treatment.
39. Celebrate your successes: When you’ve accomplished something great, take a moment to feel good about it!
40. Quit your technology addiction: Although you may love your BlackBerry, you’ll feel a whole lot better if you just step away from the screen for a while.
41. Set goals: By setting goals, you’ll give yourself something to strive for and look forward to.
42. Feel good about yourself: Make a decision to improve your self-confidence, and you’ll feel better. Others will notice it, too.
43. Be thankful: Every now and then, take some time to acknowledge all of the good things you have in your life, big and small.
44. Cut yourself some slack: Avoid inventing your own impossible, stringent rules that you have to stick to-they’ll only make you feel nervous and guilty.
45. Let go of the past: Don’t hold grudges-let go, and you’ll free up emotional space.
46. Don’t be dramatic: Stop inflating small problems, or you’ll make yourself more anxious than you need to be.
47. Express yourself: Let your emotions come out through art, writing, or other forms of expression.
48. Meditate: Take some time out every day to have an inner dialogue with yourself.

Financial Make these changes to improve your life’s financial outlook.

49. Pay off debt: Nothing will improve your finances better than simply getting rid of debt.
50. Build an emergency fund: Keep an emergency fund to save yourself from plummeting into the red when something pops up, and you’ll be much more secure.
51. Track your spending: At some point in their lives, nearly everyone has wondered where all their money goes. Try this exercise to finally get to the bottom of it, and identify spots where your money could be better spent.
52. Be frugal: Embrace frugality in your life, and you’ll save money while living more simply.
53. Make extra payments: Pay off mortgage and other large debts early, and you’ll take a load off.
54. Diversify your income: Provide yourself with some financial security by finding multiple sources of income.
55. Save: The concept is simple-save money, and you’ll have more financial power to do the things you’d like to do.
56. Eat at home more often: Eating out all the time may be fun, but preparing meals at home is a better financial strategy.
57. Invest: Investing is not only fun, it’s an excellent way to make your money grow.
58. Set a goal: Give yourself a financial goal to achieve, whether it’s saving for a particular item, or doubling your investments.
59. Save for retirement: Don’t give your future self a huge mess to take care of-save now, and you’ll enjoy it later.

Mental Improve your mind by taking these simple steps.

60. Go back to school: Continuing your education does not have to be a complicated endeavor. Take an online class, or just a weekend seminar.
61. Read classic books: Improve your mind by finally picking up all those books you were supposed to read in school.
62. Plan: Always have a plan for your life, so you’ll know what you’re working toward.
63. Quit procrastinating: Resolve to get moving, and you’ll find that you have much more time than you originally realized.
64. Get inspired by a book: Read a book that will help you spark positive changes in your life.
65. Learn from your mistakes: Don’t let mistakes get you down. Instead, consider what you did wrong, and how you can avoid doing so again in the future.
66. Stop worrying: Let go of worry, and know that the future will come no matter what you do about it.
67. Learn to play a musical instrument: Pick up a guitar, or even a harp, to improve your mental capacity and have something fun to do.
68. Work to your own advantage: Improve upon what you can, and let the rest fall away.
69. Think slowly: Instead of jumping to conclusions, carefully calculate what a situation means. Doing so can help you save relationships that might be damaged by rash thinking
70. Participate in a debate: Have a rational discussion with someone of similar intellect to improve your knowledge.
71. Learn a new language: Broaden your horizons by learning how to speak a new language.
72. Visit Wikipedia: Spend some time on Wikipedia learning lots of interesting facts you’ve never realized before.

Habits Make these changes in your daily life to improve upon yourself.

73. Quit smoking: It’s the single most important thing you can do for your health, appearance, and energy. You’ll smell better, too.
74. Wake up early: Be an early riser, and you’ll find that you have more time to get things done.
75. Spend more time outside: Head outside to become more active and enjoy the world around you.
76. Be organized: Make things easier on yourself by living a more organized life.

At Work You spend so much time at work, but probably don’t often consider how you can improve upon this important facet of your life. Take these steps to make things just a little bit better.

77. Make friends with your coworkers: One of the easiest and most important things you can do to improve your career is to practice inner networking. Socialize with your coworkers, and they’ll be more willing to help you when you need it.
78. Improve your writing skills: If you improve upon your writing skills, you’ll instantly sound more intelligent and persuasive.
79. Collaborate: Don’t go it alone-ask for help, and give help in return.
80. Keep your inbox empty: Reduce anxiety and simplify by clearing out your inbox as much as you can.
81. Leave work at the door: Don’t bring work home with you, or you’ll stress yourself out at home.
82. Join a professional association: Network with others in your field for fun and career advancement.
83. Ask for a raise: Simply asking for a raise you deserve is a no-brainer way to feel better about work and your paycheck.
84. Improve your resume: If you’re not happy with your job, give your resume a facelift and consider seeking a new position.
85. Improve your system: If you’ve got a messy desk, or generally lead a disorganized work life, take charge by reorganizing.
86. Start your own business: One of the best ways to improve your career is to go into business for yourself.

In Your Community Getting involved in your community is a great way to improve upon your life. Try these methods for getting out there.

87. Vote: Impact your community’s future by participating in the election of officials.
88. Donate unused items: Instead of holding a garage sale, pass your old items on to people who need them-like books to schools, and clothing to shelters.
89. Support charitable endeavors: Whether it’s with money or time, do what you can to help out charities in your community.
90. Be a coach: Offer to coach a youth sport, and you’ll shape young lives while having fun.
91. Visit your local library: Take advantage of your community’s library to both save money and broaden your mind.

In the Environment An excellent way to improve upon yourself is to reduce the negative impact you have on the world. Take these steps to get greener and change your life for the better.

92. Work to reduce your carbon emissions: Find out about the many things you can do to help cut your carbon emissions, and then take action on them.
93. Improve your gas mileage: Drive more slowly and coast as much as you can to improve your gas mileage.
94. Turn off the lights: Cut your waste and energy bill by turning off your lights whenever you don’t need them.
95. Get a reusable water bottle: Keep plastic water bottles out of our landfills by getting a container you can use over and over again.
96. Reduce your trash: Take steps to cut down on the waste you put in landfills.
97. Buy local and organic food: Support your health and local farmer by purchasing local, organic produce.
98. Adjust your thermostat: Let your heater and AC take a small break by adjusting your thermostat to reduce waste.
99. Stop using plastic bags: Quit using plastic bags, and you’ll both reduce your impact and save animals.
100. Take shorter showers: Save a precious resource by reducing the amount of water you use in your daily shower."

“Joy is not in things; it is in us.”
Benjamin Franklin

“May you have warmth in your igloo, oil in your lamp, and peace in your heart!”
Eskimo proverb

The holidays are here with family, friends, gifts and lots of tasty food. It can be a great time to just relax and enjoy the company of the people closest to you. But it can also sometimes be a source of stress and negativity.

So you may like a few tips that can quickly change how you feel and think. A few tips that help you to relax and turn a negative mood into a more positive one. Here are six of my favourite tips for doing just that.

1. Be grateful for two minutes.

Where you put your focus does to a large degree determine how you feel and think. Focus on the stress and how hard everything is and you will feel and think about just that. Focus on the positive things in your life right now and you will feel a lot better and think happier thoughts. Your day becomes lighter.

One of the quickest ways to shift your focus is simply to appreciate the positive things in your life right now. To be grateful for what you have. Maybe it’s your health, the snowy weather, your family and friends, the tasty food you will be eating, the snowman you made yesterday, the great and fun times you have had during the year, the wonderful things you accomplished and the lessons you learned when you things didn’t quite go your way.

If you’re feeling negative or stressed out use just two minutes in your day to reflect upon things that you are grateful for. It’s a small and quick thing to do but it can have a big effect on your mood – it’s hard to not feel like smiling after those two minutes - and how you view your life.

2. Take 30 belly breaths.

This is the quickest and most consistent way to relax that I have found so far. It’s great way to release pent up tension and to centre yourself in the present moment once again as you bring your focus to the in and out breaths.

Here’s what you do:

• Sit in a relaxing position with your legs apart.
• Put your hands on your stomach. Using your stomach breathe in slowly through your nose. If you are doing it right your stomach will expand and you’ll feel it with your hands.
• Breathe out slowly through your nose.
• Breathe in and out 30 times. Take deep and slow breaths.
• That’s it. Continue with your day.

3. Take it easy.

Nothing wrong about wanting things to be nice for the holidays. But if you are thinking that everything has to be perfect and it’s stressing you out, consider letting go a bit of that perfection. A nice and light mood within you and in your world is more valuable to everyone than having all the things lined up just right.

If you are feeling totally stressed out and wrapped up in everything you “have to do”, ask yourself: “Will this matter in 5 years?”. This is of course not an excuse for you to not do anything. But a reminder that the small things we get wrapped up in when we feel stressed are often not that important when you view it from a wider perspective.

4. Do just one thing at a time.

Single tasking and focusing on doing just one thing at a time not only decreases stress but from my experience gets things done a whole lot quicker than if you multitask. This does not just apply during office hours but is also a useful approach in just about every part of your life.

5. Eat slower.

The holidays is a time when many of us eat some tasty food and often a lot of it too. A wonderful way to enjoy all that food a bit more and also avoid eating too much of it over the next few weeks is to simply eat slower.

It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that you are full. That’s because the food has to reach the intestines before your body starts sending signals telling your brain that you feel full. By slowing down your eating your brain can stop you before you eat too much.

One tip that can help you to slow yourself down is to put down your fork between the bites. Simply put down your fork and then chew. Then pick up your fork again after you’ve swallowed, take another bite and repeat the process.

I like this tip because it forces you to slow down. Instead of taking that stressed energy from your day and just letting it power through the meal too as you quickly wolf down everything on your plate.

6. Find the opportunity hidden within the problem.

There may be conflicts. There may be stress. There may be parts of the holidays that you don’t feel so good about.

One thing about problems/challenges is that we often focus on the bad part of them. But there is almost always a good part too. Or at least an opportunity within the problem. Perhaps it teaches us to be more patient or become more empathic.

Finding this more positive part of the problem reduces its negative emotional impact and you may even start to see the situation as a great opportunity for you. When you are faced with a problem during the holidays ask yourself:

What is the good thing about this? What can I learn from this? And what opportunity can I find within this problem?

Or try asking yourself (in any just about any situation): What’s awesome about this?

7. Just accept how you feel right now.

Maybe you try out some of the tips above. And they still can’t help you to shake that negativity you are carrying around. I would then suggest just accepting that it is there. To tell yourself: “This is how I feel right now and I accept it”.

This sounds counterintuitive and like you’re giving up. However by accepting how you feel instead of resisting it you reduce the emotional energy that you are feeding into this conflict/problem. It tends to just kinda lose speed like a car that runs out of fuel. And oftentimes it becomes so weak after while that it just moves out of your inner focus.

This may be a good time to use the first tip in this article to flood your focus with gratitude and positivity.