292
DOCS.
305,
306
MARCH
1917
wants
as an
end in itself. This
should take
precedence
over
everything
else
and
needs
no
threadbare
theories in its
support.
Then
I
saw
with astonishment and
joy
how extensive
a
meeting
of minds
there
is
between
our
outlooks
on
life
(even
including your
estimation of
professors).
If
I must
stay
somewhere in
the
oppo-
sition,
it
is
in the
far-reaching
function
you assign
to
the
state.
I
am
convinced
that the
representatives
of economic
interests
should have
no
military
weapons
at
hand.
If
with the
great
new
debt
burden of
the
independent
states
this
goal
cannot be
attained
otherwise,
I
should
prefer by
far
general
state
bankruptcy.
On these
grounds, absolutely
no
legitimacy
can
be ascribed to
the
existence of
supra-regional
states. The state
seems justifiable
to
me only
as a
supporter
of
institutions for
the
common weal,
such
as
hospitals, universities,
police,
etc.
That
is
why
I
do not
understand
why
states
larger
than the
province
of
Brandenburg
could be desirable. In
my opinion, only
in small
districts
can a
nation-state
have
lasting
stability.
Switzerland
is
a
model
to
me
in
this
regard,
albeit there the
individual states
are so
small
that
they
are
barely
able to master
the
functions
indicated above.-I know
very well, though,
that
the
world will not take
shape
according
to
my
wishes!
Best
regards,
yours truly,
A.
Einstein.
306. To
Michele
Besso
[Berlin,]
9
March
1917
Dear
Michele,
It
is
nice
that
you
took
my
Albert
along
to
Mr. Bas.
I
still remember
very
well
his
exquisite, intelligent,
though
somewhat cold
playing.[1]
It
is
also
splendid
that
Dällenbach[2] is
visiting
you.
There
is
surely
a
lot
of
communal
theorizing
going
on;
I
am
already looking
forward to
being
able to
make
my
contribution in
the
summer.
I
prefer
to
come
in
the
summer
to
now, you see,
not least because
a
trip
in
the
fair
season
is
more
suited to
my
somewhat
cranky body.
I
am feeling
well,
incidentally.
The doctor[3]
says
that
I
have
gallstones. Spa
treatment,
strict
diet. You
surely
know
that
our
Zangger
has
arranged
for
the
appropriate
fodder
for
me.[4]
I’m
feeling very significantly
better;
no more
pain,
better
appearance.
My
little
boy’s
condition
depresses
me
very
much.[5]
It’s
impossible
that
he will
become
a
fully
developed person.
Who knows whether it wouldn’t be
better
for
him if he could
depart
from
us
before he
really came
to
know
life! I
am
to
blame
for his
being
and
reproach
myself,
for
the
first time in
my
life.
Everything
else
I
have
taken
more lightly or
did not
actually
feel
responsible
for.
I
just
was
not