1 0 V O L U M E 5 , D O C U M E N T 3 7 4 a
Vol. 5, 374a. To Heinrich Zangger
Prague, 17 March [1912]
Dear Friend,
Don’t be angry because I am writing so little. I am up to my ears in the problem
of gravitation, so much so that I cannot gather the energy to write a letter. Aren’t
you familiar with this condition? I can hardly believe it! You are such an energetic
fellow and did not indulge yourself that way. But the thing is going well; there is
some light at the end of the tunnel.
It will be nice when we are both living on Zurich Hill. I can’t come to Zurich
before my move to look for an
apartment.[1]
When we come to Zurich we shall put
our things in storage and stay in a guest house until we have found a suitable apart-
ment. (Nummen nüt gesprengt [Look before you leap], as the Bernese
say.)[2]
I am so sorry that you are still being irritated by the pack of
physicians.[3]
If only
some of my indifference could rub off on you. Right now I am in the middle of an
ugly dispute with Nernst, who is simultaneously very offended and shameless,
mainly because I dare to raise doubts about his sacred heat
theorem.[4]
He wrote
me, e.g., that he and his “highly talented” pupils were wondering about how super-
ficial my last papers were and that as a senior colleague he would give me his fa-
therly advice etc. etc. I replied with the advice that he and his highly talented pupils
need not waste their time on this stuff, but that I would write it anyway. At the be-
ginning of April I am going to Berlin in order to discuss this matter scientifically
with several people there, if possible also with Nernst (but only in the presence of
third
parties).[5]
At the same time I shall be visiting an old uncle
there.[6]
Cordial regards from your
Einstein
Best regards to your wife and to Heller, also best regards from my wife to you, your
wife & Heller. I congratulate the latter very much on passing successfully his ex-
amination. I read it here in “Bohemia.” Our colleague Ehrenfest was visiting me.[7]
He is a highly intelligent theoretical physicist. He is submitting his Habilitation
thesis at the Polytechnic. If Debye should leave, he would be an excellent staff
member for the university.[8] I would most like to see him as my successor here.
But his fanatical atheism makes this impossible.[9]
Vol. 5, 439a.To Vladimir Varic;ak
[Zurich, 14 May 1913]
[Not selected for translation.]