The man had balls as well as a brain!

Poor old Albert, er, Einstein that is, was a very misunderstood man.  Well, I for one never understood a word he wrote, or at least, sometimes I would catch a glimpse of the great shining truth he espoused but just as I was about to shout "Eureka!" I would blink and away it would go with the fairies - into infinity, I suppose! Anyway, his wife obviously didn't understand him, either, judging by this note he addressed to her as the conditions for him remaining with her for the sake of the children:

CONDITIONS

1. You will make sure:
   1. that my clothes and laundry are kept in good order;
   2. that I will receive my three meals regularly in my room;
   3. that my bedroom and study are kept neat, and especially that my desk is left for my use only.
2. You will renounce all personal relations with me insofar as they are not completely necessary for social reasons. Specifically, You will forego:
   1. my sitting at home with you;
   2. my going out or travelling with you.
3. You will obey the following points in your relations with me:
   1. you will not expect any intimacy from me, nor will you reproach me in any way;
   2. you will stop talking to me if I request it;
   3. you will leave my bedroom or study immediately without protest if I request it.
4. You will undertake not to belittle me in front of our children, either through words or behavior.

 

Needless to say, she left after five months!  Still, guy's got guts whatever else you think about him.  I mean, if it was me (assuming I could summon up the courage to write such a thing), I would probably die of starvation because I would never dare eat anything the Memsahib produced!  Odd, isn't it, that perhaps a brief scribble like that tells you more about the man than a detailed biography. The quote came from the delightful and always interesting Lists of Note site.

 

Comments

[dearieme]

Did he do away with his daughter?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_family#Lieserl_Einstein

[Whyaxye]

I think he could have gone a bit further if Mrs. E was in such a conciliatory mood.

"C. 1. (i) Notwithstanding the aforementioned lack of intimacy, you will perform hand-jobs as and when requested, and not ask any dumb questions about who I am thinking about."

[David Duff]

Fascinating, DM, I never knew that detail.

'W', have you tried that one on Mrs. 'W', by any chance? I assume not given that you're still alive!