3 4 8 D O C U M E N T S 4 1 0 , 4 1 1 P R E F A C E Dated 28 December 1922 PUBLISHED 29 December 1922 In: Fukuoka Nichinichi Shinbun, p. 2. [Not selected for translation.] 410. To Ayao Kuwaki [Moji, 29 December 1922][1] To Prof. Kuwaki the physicist and epistemologist, the first Japanese physicist I had the pleasure of getting to know,[2] in friendly remembrance, Albert Einstein, 1922. Nature is a prim goddess. 411. To Bansui Tsuchii (Doi) [On board S. S. Haruna Maru,] 30. Dezember 1922 Very esteemed Mr. Tsuchii, With great joy and admiration did I read the translation of your thoughtful poem[1] and your very friendly letter. It does not matter that you hugely overrate my accomplishments,[2] because the word simply emanates from the pure soul. The scientific quest really is different from that of an artist. The artist develops with cer- tainty if he has the faculty to see and feel, the power to create, and a perseverance and love of perfect creation. Science, however, is like riddle-guessing or even play- ing the lottery. It is a rare, chance event if something really valuable is found. Many a highly talented young man labors right into old age without the severe goddess unveiling anything of her deep secrets to him she is unpredictable and inquires lit- tle about merit earned from a devoted search for Truth. And the little she entrusted to me must appear gigantically magnified to the uninformed, who do not know about the achievements of my forerunners and fellow seekers. Be this as it may— I am delighted about your enthusiastic words. I found exceptionally fine what you said about your beautiful land and the pecu- liar transitional state in which it currently finds itself. But I do believe your charac- terization is a little too harsh. In nurturing Western sciences over the course of these couple of decades, Japan has already climbed to a high level and is tackling the pro-
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