2 1 2 D O C U M E N T S 7 9 , 8 0 J U L Y 1 9 2 0
I do find your judgment on Germans a bit severe. It seems that no nation is safe
from falling victim to an imperialistic tendency, especially when its inner equilib-
rium is threatened by external success.
In sincere fellowship, I am yours tr[uly],
79. To Gösta Mittag-Leffler[1]
Berlin, W. 30, 5 Haberland St., 21 July 1920
Highly esteemed Colleague,
Multifarious obligations and particularly many business trips abroad unfortu-
nately made it impossible for me to write the planned essay on Poincaré’s position
on the problem of geometry and
experience.[2]
I feared that in the little time avail-
able I could not have done full justice to the great master, since I would not have
been in a position to study closely all his analyses related to the topic. With the kind
request not to attribute this omission of mine otherwise than to the high regard I
have for the task, I am, with great respect, yours very sincerely,
80. To Joseph Petzoldt
Berlin, 21 July 1920
Dear Colleague,
I also would find a gathering of the type indicated by you profitable, provided
only those people join whom we ourselves
invite.[1]
If you would like to pave the
way for something of the sort here, then I certainly shall appear. I am in Berlin dur-
ing all of August and until about Sept.
10.[2]
It would be my pleasure to have you
and Mr. Winternitz visit me sometime in the evening so that we can talk about
relativity.[3]
I find Helge Holst’s work
weak;[4]
it overlooks the fact that as soon as
one relinquishes the relativity postulate, a hopeless multiplicity of possibilities re-
mains before one, and that comprehension of the essential identity of inertia and
gravity is lost at the same time. Your critique of Holst’s work is
legitimate.[5]
Then
we could also discuss the cosmological problem. I am firmly convinced of the fi-
niteness of the world but do admit to not being able to furnish compelling
evidence.[6]
Sincerely yours,
A. Einstein.