DOCS. 288-290 JANUARY
1917
279
I considered
it
my
duty
to
notify you
of
this
publication;
I
do not enclose
the
book, however,
because that
could look
like
an
attempt
to
press you
to
read it.
I
am
satisfied
if
you
are
kind
enough
to
devote this moment
to
me.[5]
As
things
stand, I
may
not
hope
for
more-or
perhaps I
may?
Sometime in the
future?
In
expressing
my
deepest
admiration,
I
am
most
sincerely
and
devotedly yours,
Alexander Moszkowski.
289. To
Georg
Nicolai
[Berlin, ca.
22
January
1917][1]
Dear
Nicolai,
After
you
had
left,
I continued
to
mull
over
your plan
in
my
head.[2] I
consider
the
affair
entirely
hopeless
and
apt
to result
in much
trouble and
disappointment
for
you.
Imagine
for
yourself
how
we are
going
to
look
to
the
people
whom
you
want
to
approach
now
if
the
whole business
misfires.
Consider how valuable
relationships
will
suffer
by
it! We
must not let ourselves be deceived
about the
prospects
of the
enterprise.
In these
agitated
times,
a
tiny
few
concern
themselves
with writers
of
the
past;
the latter
remain
undisturbed
in
the
libraries. Added to
this, I
believe
that
Mr.
Buek[3]
ought
not
to be burdened with
a
task
to
which
even a more
energetic person
would
not
be
equal; agreeable
though
the
man
is
otherwise,
with
his
shy
and meek
demeanor,
he
is
absolutely
unsuited
to execute
such
a
mission.
Do
not
be
annoyed by
this
frank
expression
of
my opinion.
I
feel
so
firmly
convinced,
that
silence would be
disingenuous.
Cordial
greetings, yours,
A.
Einstein.
290. To Willem de Sitter
[Berlin,
23
January
1917]
Dear
Colleague,
It
is
a
fine thing
that
you
are
throwing
this
bridge
over
the
abyss
of
delusion.[1]
You will receive
the
requested paper, along
with
some
others for
our
colleague,
simultaneously
with this
postcard.[2]
When
peace
has
returned, I
shall write to