'Invention is the privilege of youth': on his unsuccessful work, his desire for a 'contemplative existence', and a reference to the trial of Adolf Hitler.

On his working patterns, as age begins to dim his youthful brilliance: 'I am working a lot, but bringing little to completion; the amended proverb applies to me "And what he can, he would not / And what he would, he cannot". Incidentally it remains the case that invention is the privilege of youth, whilst I am gradually becoming an old chap'.

Otherwise, Einstein accepts his sister's complaints: 'You are quite right to be unhappy with me, as I never write. But I am always under the pressure of so many unfulfilled obligations that I never find the space to write private letters. It is the European disease, to which one must fall victim in my situation. One yearns for a contemplative existence, but does not have the moral strength to achieve it for oneself'. He imagines that for Maja this aspect of life at least is more satisfactory. Einstein is travelling to Naples at the beginning of May, and hopes to see the Wintelers in Florence on the way back: 'Unfortunately it will be a great whirlwind, instead of a contemplative stroll'. His stepdaughter Ilse is getting married, to a man of whom Einstein approves [the scholar Rudolf Kayser]. He has nothing but good news of his sons: 'Albert has become a solid guy [ein fester Kerl]', and has done well in his exams 'even though he has not exactly distinguished himself by his industry, and sailed more than he studied with me over the summer'. In a reference to current affairs [almost certainly to the trial of Hitler and the Beer-Hall Putsch conspirators, which was to conclude a few days later] he asks 'Have you also read anything about the Munich tragi-comedy? People allow themselves to be influenced rather little by world history ...'.
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