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Kerrie
Registered User
(11/12/01 6:34:08 pm)
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Einstein and fairy tales... our 20th Century muse?
The following is the intro to an article in the December issue of Victoria titled: Jackie Wullschlager: the fairy-tale lady by Claire Whitcomb
"Once upon a time, recounts Jackie Wullschlager, a mother asked Albert Einstein what she should read to her scientifically minded son. "Fairy stories," he replied, nodding his cloud of white hair. "And then what?" the mother asked, awaiting the names of complicated treatises. "More fairy stories, Einstein answered.
I seem to remember hearing this anecdote somewhere before. Does anyone know if it's true? It doesn't surprise me in the least! Ever since I first learned about the muses (the movie Xanadu), I have had a strong understanding of the need for balance between the arts and sciences.
Forest frosts,
Kerrie
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erzebet
Registered User
(11/12/01 6:53:11 pm)
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re: Einstein and fairy tales
Heide posted the following on the board here in October of 2000:
"When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.
- Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
And also from: www.uen.org/themepark/htm.../folk.html
When Albert Einstein was asked how to develop intelligence in young people, he answered: "Read fairy tales. Then read more fairy tales."
Einstein also supposedly credited his genius to his mother's reading of folk and fairy tales to him as a child, although I don't have a direct quote."
Hope that helps.
Erz
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Richard
Parks
Registered User
(11/12/01 10:03:34 pm)
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Einstein
He's also been quoted as saying, "To know is nothing. To imagine is everything." Considering how much of his understanding came from his famous "thought experiments," that makes a lot of sense.
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