4 4 V O L U M E 8 , D O C U M E N T 3 0 0 a
I asked Mr. Boas to report to you about my
condition.[2]
He has quite certainly
established that the liver is sick. But he himself is not entirely sure about the nature
of the sickness for the time being. In any case, I don’t believe that this is a minor,
temporary thing. I have been suffering from this pain for about 18 years and have
always looked pretty rotten. But two months ago something snapped, expressing
itself in rapid aging, frequent chills, and otherwise general discomfort. Since I have
been on this strict diet, the pain is gone but the ailment is naturally still there. Be-
cause death is the worst thing that can happen in such a case, and I don’t make
much of that, I don’t let the affair upset me at all. Added to this is the fact that I am
being very carefully nursed by my
cousin,[3]
better than would be possible at a
sanatorium.
Your hints about Besso’s plans have raised my curiosity to the boiling
point,[4]
without my being able to get an idea about what it involves. So I assume that he
will investigate the secret of natural life in the Wild West under the informed guid-
ance of an Indian chief, or that he will think this through so precisely that he won’t
need to leave at all but will find the solution through purely theoretical means, with
the usual marginal error of 2%.
Dear Zangger! Don’t think that I turned into a hypochondriac. When we’re to-
gether in Zurich or wherever else, we’ll saunter around with light minds, relishing
the sunshine, enjoying the hour of day and existence as we did before. Life should
not be negated for the sake of death nor for the sake of war nor for any other mad-
ness. When should I come to Switzerland this year? I asked my Albert as well but
he is hesitating with his
reply.[5]
Perhaps you can speak to him about it sometime.
Warm greetings to you, yours,
Einstein.
P. S. The bird feed, if it really arrives, will last for a long
time.[6]
We don’t need to
think beyond that. Who knows what will be by then.
Vol. 8, 300a. To Emperor Karl I[1]
[between mid-February and 29 April
1917][2]
Your Majesty,
Under the pressure of an imperative obligation I am allowing myself the liberty,
Your Majesty, to submit a request. Some time ago The political murder which
of which Fritz Adler made himself guilty has profoundly shaken the spirit of all
well of every right thinking person. I do not wish to varnish this horrible act as
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