Skip to content
quotesby

Like other great scientists he does not fit the boxes in which popular polemicists like to pigeonhole him. ... It is clear for example that he had respect for the religious values enshrined within Judaic and Christian traditions ... but what he understood by religion was something far more subtle than what is usually meant by the word in popular discussion.

Albert Einstein#278

ScienceReligionUnderstandingComplexity

About this quote

What does it mean?
Great thinkers often defy simple categorization and hold complex views on traditions like religion.
In plain terms
Important people don't fit into simple boxes or labels.
What can you take from it?
Avoid judging complex people by simple stereotypes.

Where it applies

  • public discourse
  • biographical study
  • debates

Putting it to work

  • look beyond labels
  • read primary sources

Questions to consider

  • How often do you box people in?
  • What defines a scientist?

Another view

Some people do fit neatly into categories.

More from Albert Einstein

  1. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

    Permalink to quote #277
  2. Einstein was a giant. His head was in the clouds, but his feet were on the ground. Those of us who are not so tall have to choose!

    Permalink to quote #279
  3. The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.

    Permalink to quote #276

Related quotes

  1. I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.

    Richard FeynmanRichard Feynman quote #18
  2. The God idea is growing more impersonal and nebulous in proportion as the human mind is learning to understand natural phenomena and in the degree that science…

    Emma GoldmanEmma Goldman quote #21
  3. Science offers us an explanation of how complexity (the difficult) arose out of simplicity (the easy). The hypothesis of God offers no worthwhile explanation f…

    Richard DawkinsRichard Dawkins quote #141