Science has taken many twists and turns, and some discoveries change history and others simply reveal that a genius is still a genius a century after his death. We are talking about Albert Einstein, of course, the man who turned the laws of the universe upside down and who had a philosophy of life that endures to this day.
Apparently, it was in 1922 when, during a trip to Japan, he wrote two simple sentences on a piece of paper, not knowing that those words would become one of the most valuable notes in history.
But what could a man like Einstein say about happiness? What idea could be worth more than a million dollars? What seemed like a casual gesture ended up being a jewel for collectors and a timeless lesson on the true meaning of success.
The story behind the message
Two notes about happiness. It seemed like an unimportant gesture, a joke, a way for Enstein to “pay” a messenger when he had no money in his pockets. The scientist himself gave the notes to the messenger, asking him to keep them safe, that in the future they would have a much higher value than anything he could give him at that moment. And the messenger, of course, did. A piece of paper, of no apparent importance, would end up being a historical piece valued at more than 1.5 million dollars!!! What did this note really say and why is it so significant?
Einstein’s message about happiness
The two messages that Einstein wrote were very simple (and with a philosophical tone). The first one said “a quiet and modest life brings more joy than a search for success linked to constant restlessness.” and the second, shorter, said “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
What does Einstein want to tell us with these phrases?
The philosophy that both phrases reflect is easy: to live far from material success because happiness is not related to material things, but to our interior, because a simple life without luxuries can be much more satisfying than a life in which we are constantly struggling to achieve ambitious goals.
The second, if we look closely, can even be applied to his scientific career, because it reinforces the determination and will to overcome obstacles without giving up.
Einstein’s message about happiness
The two messages that Einstein wrote were very simple (and with a philosophical tone). The first one said “a quiet and modest life brings more joy than a search for success linked to constant restlessness.” and the second, shorter, said “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
What does Einstein want to tell us with these phrases?
The philosophy that both phrases reflect is easy: to live far from material success because happiness is not related to material things, but to our interior, because a simple life without luxuries can be much more satisfying than a life in which we are constantly struggling to achieve ambitious goals.
The second, if we look closely, can even be applied to his scientific career, because it reinforces the determination and will to overcome obstacles without giving up.
But, wasn’t Einstein a physicist?
Yes, and his scientific theories (such as the well-known theory of Relativity) earned him a Nobel Prize in Physics, but he also had a great philosophical concern. And it was on his trip to Japan that he began to develop a great interest in Eastern philosophy and Buddhism, which focus mainly on simplicity and harmony, and that is what these two notes reflect.
The auction of the notes.
The notes remained in the messenger’s family for years, and in 2017 they were put up for auction. Initially, they were expected to fetch between $5,000 and $8,000, but the value exceeded all expectations. The first note sold for $1,560,000, and the second for $240,000,000. That’s not much money to keep a piece of Einstein’s wisdom!
Einstein continues to inspire admiration, and now, paying attention to his way of thinking and interpreting life makes his legacy even more impressive!!