Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Albert Einstein was one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century, celebrated for his groundbreaking theories, unforgettable character, and timeless wisdom.

Explore Quotes Life Timeline

Quick Facts

Full NameAlbert Einstein
Born14 March 1879, Ulm, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire
Died18 April 1955, Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityGerman, later Swiss and American
EducationSwiss Federal Polytechnic (ETH Zurich), Ph.D. University of Zurich
FieldsPhysics, Mathematics
Known forTheory of Relativity, E = mc², Photoelectric Effect
Nobel PrizePhysics (1921)
SpousesMileva Marić (m. 1903–1919), Elsa Löwenthal (m. 1919–1936)

Famous Quotes

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.”– Albert Einstein
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”– Albert Einstein
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”– Albert Einstein
“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”– Albert Einstein
“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.”– Albert Einstein
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”– Albert Einstein
“If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”– Albert Einstein
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”– Albert Einstein

Timeline of Einstein's Life

  1. 1879Born in Ulm, Germany.
  2. 1896Entered Swiss Federal Polytechnic (ETH Zurich).
  3. 1905Annus mirabilis: Published ground-breaking papers on the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, special relativity, and mass–energy equivalence (E = mc²).
  4. 1909Appointed Professor at University of Zurich.
  5. 1915Published the general theory of relativity.
  6. 1921Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for explanation of the photoelectric effect.
  7. 1933Emigrated to the United States due to rise of Nazi Germany.
  8. 1939Signed letter to President Roosevelt urging atomic research.
  9. 1955Passed away on April 18 in Princeton, New Jersey.

Did You Know?

• Einstein didn’t wear socks. He often boasted about the fact.
• He loved to play the violin and named it 'Lina'.
• He was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952, but declined.
• Einstein’s brain was removed after his death (without his family’s permission) for scientific study.
• He had a notoriously unruly mane of hair—and famously quipped, "If I didn’t have such big ideas, I wouldn’t look so crazy!"
• Albert Einstein was slow to speak as a child and his parents worried about his development.
• As a child, he was so fascinated by a compass that he wondered about the invisible forces that turned the needle—igniting his curiosity for life.
• Einstein wrote letters to world leaders advocating for peace and nonviolence, especially after the use of atomic bombs.
• In addition to physics, Einstein loved philosophy and was friends with famous thinkers like Bertrand Russell and Sigmund Freud.
• He was passionate about civil rights and was a member of the NAACP, advocating for equality in the United States.