D O C U M E N T 1 0 0 A U G U S T 1 9 2 0 2 3 1
I think, as is, the thing is still nonsense—but maybe you can do something with
it.
I would very much like it, if we could talk with Langevin and Weiss about the
nature of the inner field.—Weiss has published on some very stimulating but, if I
am not mistaken, very incorrect things (Ann. de Physique, vol. I [1914]) (also Ar-
chives de Genève, 1913 or
1914).[24]
— • —
Will you read all that I have scribbled down here, I wonder??
— • —
I am very, very depressed—partly because of perpetual (trivial!!!) financial wor-
ries, partly because I am not working at all. Whatever I am able to do is not science
but making somewhat entertaining parlor and promenade conversation about the
physics—of others.
— • —
— • —
In order to be able to understand Langevin’s French somewhat, I recently took
up reading in French, and specifically, I chose the philosopher
Bergson.[25]
He is a
splendid fellow. You’ll be astonished what a delight it is—when I show you a few
selected pages from his books. My wife Tanya and I enjoy his work very
much.[26]
How exquisitely happy I could be, if I weren’t so jaded and unproductively am-
bitious. And it’s all fully clear to me but there’s no helping it—I can reap as much
as I want from any pleasure—but it’s like confection and marmalade—bread is the
fruit of hard labor—and that is where I completely fail.
Sorry—you don’t have to make the least reply to this whining drivel.
Expecting you with great impatience. But everyone expects you—everywhere,
Ehrenfest
Greetings from us to all of you.
Will there be a public scene at the scientists’ congress? I very much fear—yes—
to Germany’s
detriment.[27]
100. To Théophile de Donder
Berlin, 11 August 1920
Esteemed Colleague,
Many thanks for kindly sending me your
papers.[1]
I must admit, though, that I
cannot understand many things in them, especially your treatment of energy. The
operator