2 0 6 D O C U M E N T S 1 8 9 , 1 9 0 F E B R U A R Y 1 9 2 6 189. To Leo Kohn [Berlin,] 7 February 1926 Dear Mr. Kohn, You have surely received some letters from Mr. Ehrmann and a note from me, which I sent to him first.[1] Here, I am again sending you a few fine things. I do not consider it my business to grapple with people and play “politics.” I simply want to draw your attention to the fact that it must be noted that appointments by Magnes[2] have no validity. He is attempting to make Kligler the director of the Mi- crobiological Institute and has given him disproportionately excessive operating funds, which we unfortunately did not pay enough attention to at the meeting.[3] Besides that, I received a letter from Ginzberg, sentimental and at the same time abounding with lawyers’ tricks. He claims to be secretary of the Board of Gover- nors, only doing his duty, etc.[4] I am responding to neither Magnes nor Ginzberg, particularly as I do not master the prior history of this tohu va vohu. I must tell you frankly that I consider the university doomed if things continue like this. If a sense of responsibility is lacking, nothing good can come of it. And it was a lack of a sense of responsibility that allowed Magnes to attain such power. If the Board of Governors doesn’t decide on a radical purge, I will completely aban- don the cause because it’s not worth the time and effort expended. Kind regards, your A. Einstein 190. From Eduard Einstein [Zurich,] 8 February 1926 Dear Papa, I thank you very much for your letter.[1] I always have to admire your letters. Mine quickly degenerate into the generally customary banalities you, however, al- ways have a suitable maxim at hand in the appropriate places that crowns the whole thing. You would no doubt have had a great future as a Sunday school teacher or author of Greek exercise books. By the way, I congratulate you for the fact that you received some gold medal from some institute.[2] — (See: I am well-informed about you!) I think you’re right with your observations about simplicity and emotion in art.[3] You are, incidentally, of the same mind in that regard as poor old Schopen- hauer, whom you regard with such contempt, who, if I remember correctly, said: