Albert Einstein Views On Education Quotes

Albert Einstein views on education and teaching style may not accord well with some of you.

This German-born theoretical physicist preferred a school with lesser standardization and structured rote learning.

Einstein also talked about the “learning by doing”.

The fuzzy haired Albert Einstein said schooling should instill general preparation for living and learning for the rest of your life.

He strongly believed the educational system should be for the development of the individual as an autonomous critical thinker.

In his various addresses to students, Albert Einstein focused the utmost importance of independent thinking and judgment.

Albert Einstein’s theory of education is based on reasoning and logic.

Albert Einstein Views On Education

Anyway, here is a great list of Albert Einstein views on education, learning and teaching taken from various reliable sources.

“Knowledge is dead; the school, however, serves the living.” – Albert Einstein

“Wissen ist tot; die Schule aber ist Dienerin des Lebens.” (German)

(Out of My Later Years: The Scientist, Philosopher, And Man Portrayed Through His Own Words By Albert Einstein, New York: Open Road Media, 2011, Part One: Convictions And Beliefs, 9. On Education(1936)

(The quote is also found in: Ideas And Opinions By Albert Einstein, Based On Mein Weltbild, Edited By Carl Seelig, And Other Sources, New Translations And Revisions By Sonja Bargmann, New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1954, Part I: Ideas And Opinions, About Education, On Education, P. 60)

(The quote in German is found in: Aus Meinen Späten Jahren By Albert Einstein, Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1979, 7. Sittlichkeit Und Gefühl, P. 22)

Note: From an address at Albany, New York, on the occasion of the celebration of the tercentenary of higher education in America, October 15, 1936.

Translated by Lina Arranet.

“…the aim (of education) must be the training of independently acting and thinking individuals who, however, see in the service of the community their highest life problem.” – Albert Einstein

“Das Ziel (bildung) muss vielmehr die Heranbildung selbständig handelnder und denkender Individuen sein, die aber im Dienste an der Gemeinschaft ihre höchste Lebensaufgabe sehen.” (German)

(The quote in German is found in: Aus Meinen Späten Jahren By Albert Einstein, Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1979, 7. Sittlichkeit Und Gefühl, P. 22)

(The full address in German is over here.)

Note: From an address at Albany, New York, on the occasion of the celebration of the tercentenary of higher education in America, October 15, 1936.

Translated by Lina Arranet.

“The most important method of education accordingly always has consisted of that in which the pupil was urged to actual performance.” – Albert Einstein

“Das wichtigste Erziehungsmittel bestand dementsprechend stets darin, dass der Schüler zu Leistungen angeregt wurde.” (German)

(The quote in German is found in: Aus Meinen Späten Jahren By Albert Einstein, Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1979, 7. Sittlichkeit Und Gefühl, P. 23)

(The full address in German is over here.)

Note: From an address at Albany, New York, on the occasion of the celebration of the tercentenary of higher education in America, October 15, 1936.

Translated by Lina Arranet.

“The most important motive for work in the school and in life is the pleasure in work, pleasure in its result and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community.” – Albert Einstein

“Das wichtigste Motiv zur Leistung in der Schule und im Leben ist die Freude an der Arbeit, die Freude an ihrem Ergebnis und das Bewußstsein vom Werte des Arbeitsergebnisses für die Gemeinschaft.” (German)

(The quote in German is found in: Aus Meinen Späten Jahren By Albert Einstein, Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1979, 8. Naturwissenschaft Und Religion, P. 25)

(The full address in German is over here.)

Note: From an address by Albert Einstein to the State University of New York at Albany, on the occasion of the celebration of the tercentenary of higher education in America, 15th October, 1931.

Translated by Lina Arranet.

“The development of general ability for independent thinking and judgment should always be placed foremost, not the acquisition of special knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

“Stets soll die Entwicklung der allgemeinen Fähigkeit selbständigen Denkens, Urteilens und Arbeitens im Vordergrunde stehen, nicht die Erwerbung von Spezialkenntnissen.” (German)

(The quote in German is found in: Aus Meinen Späten Jahren By Albert Einstein, Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 8. Naturwissenschaft Und Religion, 1979, P. 27) source

(The full address in German is over here.)

Note: From an address by Albert Einstein to the State University of New York at Albany, on the occasion of the celebration of the tercentenary of higher education in America, 15th October, 1931.

Translated by Lina Arranet.

“If a young man has trained his muscles and physical endurance by gymnastics and walking, he will later be fitted for every physical work. This is also analogous to the training of the mind and of the mental and manual skill.” – Albert Einstein

“Wenn ein junger Mensch durch Turnen und Fußwanderungen seine Muskeln und seine körperliche Ausdauer geübt hat, wird zu jeder körperlichen Arbeit späterhin befähigt sein. Analog ist es auch mit der Trainierung des Geistes und mit der Übung der Geschicklichkeit der Sinne und Hände.” (German)

(The quote in German is found in: Aus Meinen Späten Jahren By Albert Einstein, Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1979, 9. über Erziehung, PP. 26-27) source

(The second part of the quote is here.)

(The third part of the quote is found here.)

(The full address in German is over here.)

Note: From an address by Albert Einstein to the State University of New York at Albany, on the occasion of the celebration of the tercentenary of higher education in America, 15th October, 1931.

Translated by Lina Arranet.

“The demands of life are much too manifold to let such a specialized training in school appear possible. Apart from that, it seems to me, moreover, objectionable to treat the individual like a dead tool.” – Albert Einstein

“Die Erfordernisse des Lebens sind viel zu mannigfaltig, eine derart spezialisierte Ausbildung in der Schule als möglich erscheinen zu lassen. Abgesehen davon erscheint es mir überhaupt verwerflich, das Individuum zu behandeln wie ein totes Werkzeug.” (German)

(The quote in German is found in: Aus Meinen Späten Jahren By Albert Einstein, Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, 1979, 9. über Erziehung, P. 27) source

(The second part of the quote is found here.) source

(The full address in German is over here.)

Note: From an address by Albert Einstein to the State University of New York at Albany, on the occasion of the celebration of the tercentenary of higher education in America, 15th October, 1931.

Translated by Lina Arranet.

“Most teachers waste their time by asking questions which are intended to discover what a pupil does not know, whereas the true art of questioning has for its purpose to discover what the pupil knows or is capable of knowing.” – Albert Einstein

“Die meisten vertrödeln die Zeit mit Fragen, und sie fragen, um herauszube— kommen, was der Schüler nicht weiß; während die wahre Fragekunst sich darauf richtet, zu ermitteln, was der andre weiß oder zu wissen fahig ist.” (German)

(Einstein, The Searcher: His Work Explained From Dialogues With Einstein By Alexander Moszkowski, Translated By Henry L. Brose, London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1921, Ch. IV: Education, P. 65) source

(The quote is also found here.)

(The quote in German is found in: Einstein, Einblicke In Seine Gedankenwelt: Gemeinverständliche Betrachtungen über Die Relativitätstheorie Und Ein Neuses Weltsystem, Entwickelt Aus Gesprächen Mit Einstein Von Moszkowski, Alexander, Hamburg: Hoffmann Und Campe, 1921, Menschen-Erzichung, P. 74) source

(The quote in German is also found .)

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

“Es ist die wichtigste Kunst des Lehrers, die Freude am Schaffen und am Erkennen zu wecken” (German)

(The Ultimate Quotable Einstein Collected And Edited By Alice Calaprice, With A Foreword By Freeman Dyson, Princeton University Press, 2010, On Education, Students, Academic Freedom, P. 100)

(The quote in German is found in: Mein Weltbild Von Albert Einstein, Herausgegeben Von Carl Seelig, Berlin: Ullstein-Taschenbuch-Verlag 2005, I, Lehrer Und Schüler, Eine Ansprache An Kinder, P. 25) source

(The quote in German is also found in: Albert Einstein: Mein Weltbild. Hrsg. Von Carl Seelig, München: Europa Verlag, 1953, I, Lehrer Und Schüler, Eine Ansprache An Kinder, P. 30) source

Note: On February 26, 1931, Einstein dedicated the astronomy observatory of Pasadena Junior College (PJC).

He gave a short speech in German and he also contributed the above quote to be inscribed on the small bronze dedicatory plaque inside the building.

*Here is a short write up together with pictures of Einstein at the event.

By the way, there is a similar line from a novel by the French writer Anatole France.

“The Whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards…” – Anatole France

(The Crime Of Sylvestre Bonnard By Anatole France, Mondial, 2007, Part 2: The Daughter Of Clementin, Ch. IV: The Little Saint-George, June 6, P. 90) source

“The most valuable thing a teacher can impart to children is not knowledge and understanding per se but a longing for knowledge and understanding, and an appreciation for intellectual values, whether they be artistic, scientific, or moral.” – Albert Einstein

“Das Wichtigste, was der Lehrer den Kindern zu vermitteln hat, ist nicht Wissen und Erkenntnis selbst.” (German)

(The Ultimate Quotable Einstein Collected And Edited By Alice Calaprice, With A Foreword By Freeman Dyson, Princeton University Press, 2010, On Education, Students, Academic Freedom, P. 101) source

“Numerous are the academic chairs, but rare are wise and noble teachers. Numerous and large are the lecture halls, but far from numerous the young people who genuinely thirst for truth and justice. Numerous are the wares that nature produces by the dozen, but her choice products are few.” – Albert Einstein

“Zahlreich sind die Lehrkanzeln, aber selten die weisen und edlen Lehrer. Zahlreich und groß sind die Hörsäle,doch wenig zahlreich die jungen Menschen, die ehrlich nach Wahrheit und Gerechtigkeit dürsten. Zahlreich spendet die Natur ihre Dutzendware, aber das Feinere erzeugt sie selten.” (German)

(Ideas And Opinions By Albert Einstein, Based On Mein Weltbild, Edited By Carl Seelig, And Other Sources, New Translations And Revisions By Sonja Bargmann, New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1954, Part I: Ideas And Opinions, About Freedom, On Academic Freedom, Apropos Of The Gumbel Case, 1931. E.J. Gumbel, Professor At The University Of Heidelberg, Germany, Had Courageously Exposed Political Assassinations By German Nazis And Other Members Of The Extreme Right. In Consequence He Was Violently Attacked, Particularly By Right-Wing Students, PP. 28-29) source

(The quote is also found in: Einstein On Politics: His Private Thoughts And Public Stands On Nationalism, Zionism, War, Peace, And The Bomb, Princeton University Press, 2013, Ch. 10: Political Freedom And The Threat Of Nuclear War, 1931-1955, On Academic Freedom: The Gumbel Case, 28 April 1931, P. 464) source

(The German quote is found in: Mein Weltbild Von Albert Einstein, Herausgegeben Von Carl Seelig, Berlin: Ullstein-Taschenbuch-Verlag 2005, I. Von Der Freiheit Der Lehre, Zum Fall Gumbel, P. 21) source

“Never regard your study as a duty, but as the enviable opportunity to learn to know the liberating influence of beauty in the realm of the spirit for your own personal joy and to the profit of the community to which your later work belongs.” – Albert Einstein

(Princeton Alumni Weekly, Volume 79, March 12, 1979, P. 18)

(The quote is also found in: Albert Einstein, The Human Side: Glimpses From His Archives, Edited By Helen Dukas And Banesh Hoffmann, With A New Foreword By Ze’ev Rosenkranz, Princeton University Press, 2013, P. 56) source

Note: The original quote is found in The Dink, Vol. 3, No. 3, Dec. 1933.

“It is not enough to teach man a specialty…He must acquire a vivid sense of the beautiful and of the morally good. Otherwise he – with his specialized knowledge – more closely resembles a well-trained dog than a harmoniously developed person.” – Albert Einstein

(“Einstein Stresses Critical Thinking; Opposing Early Specialties, He Says College Must Aim at ‘Harmonious’ Personality” Interviewed By Benjamin Fine, New York Times, October 5, 1952, P. 37) source

(The full article can be found here.)

(The quote is also found in: Ideas And Opinions By Albert Einstein, Based On Mein Weltbild, Edited By Carl Seelig, And Other Sources, New Translations And Revisions By Sonja Bargmann, New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1954, Part I, About Education, Education For Independent Thought From The New York ‘Times, October 5, 1952, P. 66) source

“It is in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of instruction have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wreck and ruin without fail.” – Albert Einstein

“Es ist eigentlich wie ein Wunder, dass der moderne Lehrbetrieb die heilige Neugier des Forschens noch nicht ganz erdrosselt hat; denn dies delikate Pflänzchen bedarf neben Anregung hauptsächlich der Freiheit; ohne diese geht es unweigerlich zugrunde.” (German)

(Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist, Edited And Translated By Paul Arthur Schilpp, New York: Tudor Publishing Company, 1957, I. Einstein’s Autobiography, Albert Einstein: “Autobiographical Notes” (in German And English Translation), P. 17) source

(The second part of the quote is found here.)

(The quote in German is found in: Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist, Edited And Translated By Paul Arthur Schilpp, New York: Tudor Publishing Company, 1957, I. Einstein’s Autobiography, Albert Einstein: “Autobiographical Notes” (in German And English Translation), P. 16) source

“Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty.” – Albert Einstein

(The full article can be found here.)

(The quote is also found in: Ideas And Opinions By Albert Einstein, Based On Mein Weltbild, Edited By Carl Seelig, And Other Sources, New Translations And Revisions By Sonja Bargmann, New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1954, Part I, About Education, Education For Independent Thought, From The New York Times, October 5, 1952, P. 67)

“You learn the most from things you enjoy doing so much that you don’t even notice time passing.” – Albert Einstein

“Daran lernt man am meisten, was man mit so viel Vergnügen thut, dass man nicht merkt, dass die Zeit vergeht.” (German)

(The Collected Papers Of Albert Einstein, Volume 8: The Berlin Years: Correspondence, 1914-1918 (English Translation Supplement), Translated By Ann M. Hentschel, Doc. 134, To Hans Albert Einstein, Berlin, 4 November 1915, P. 140) source

(The quote in German is found in: The Collected Papers Of Albert Einstein, Volume 8, Part A: The Berlin Years: Correspondence, 1914-1917, Edited by Robert Schulmann, A. J. Kox, Michel Janssen, and József Illy, Doc. 135, To Hans Albert Einstein, Berlin, 4 November 1915, P. 190) source

“It is not so very important for a person to learn facts. For that he does not really need college. He can learn them from books.” – Albert Einstein

(Einstein: His Life And Times By Philipp Frank, Translate From A German Manuscript By George Rosen, Edited And Revised By Shuichi Kusaka, New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1947, Ch. VIII. Travels Through Europe, America And Asia, 5. Reception By The American People, P. 185) source

(This quote is also found in: The Ultimate Quotable Einstein By Albert Einstein, Edited By Alice Calaprice, Princeton University Press, 2010, On Education, Students, Academic Freedom, P. 100) source

“Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking.” – Albert Einstein

(What Life Means To Einstein: An Interview By George Sylvester Viereck, Saturday Evening Post, October 26, 1929, Our Intellectual Democracy, P. 113) source

“Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” – Albert Einstein

“Freude am Schauen und Begreifen ist die schönste Gabe der Natur.” (German)

(Ideas And Opinions By Albert Einstein, Based On Mein Weltbild, Edited By Carl Seelig, And Other Sources, New Translations And Revisions By Sonja Bargmann, New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1954, Part I: Ideas And Opinions, Aphorisms For Leo Baeck, From The Two-Volume Commemorative Publication In honor Of The Eightieth Birthday Of Leo Baeck, May 23, 1953, P. 28) source

(The quote in German is found in: Mein Weltbild Von Albert Einstein, Herausgegeben Von Carl Seelig, Berlin: Ullstein-Taschenbuch-Verlag 2005, IV, Aphorismen Für Leo Baeck, P. 106)

(The quote in German is also found in: Mein Weltbild. Hrsg. Von Carl Seelig, München: Europa Verlag, 1953, IV, Aphorismen Für Leo Baeck, P. 138) source

“School failed me, and I failed the school. It bored me. The teachers behaved like Feldwebel (sergeants). I wanted to learn what I wanted to know, but they wanted me to learn for the exam.” – Albert Einstein

(Einstein and the Poet: In Search of the Cosmic Man By William Hermanns, Branden Press, 1983, First conversation (1930), P. 8) source

(The quote from the passage is found here.)

Note: Taken from conversations with William Hermanns in 1930, 1943, 1948, and 1954.

“Intuition is the father of new knowledge, while empiricism is nothing but an accumulation of old knowledge. Intuition, not intellect, is the ‘open sesame’ of yourself.” – Albert Einstein

(Einstein And The Poet: In Search of the Cosmic Man By William Hermanns, Branden Press, 1983, First Conversation (1930), P. 16)

“Knowledge exists in two forms – lifeless, stored in books, and alive, in the consciousness of men. The second form of existence is after all the essential one.” – Albert Einstein

(Ideas And Opinions By Albert Einstein, Based On Mein Weltbild, Edited By Carl Seelig, And Other Sources, New Translations And Revisions By Sonja Bargmann, New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1954, Part I: Ideas And Opinions, About Friends, Message In Honor Of Morris Raphael Cohen For The Morris Raphael Cohen Student Memorial Fund, November 15, 1949, P. 80)

(The quote is also found here.)

Note: From the message in honor of Morris Raphael Cohen, November 15, 1949.

“In teaching history, there should be extensive discussion of personalities who benefited mankind through independence of character and judgment.” – Albert Einstein

()

Note: A reply written in English to Vivienne Anderson of The New York State Education Department, Albany, NY (USA).

“The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, an almost fanatical love of justice and the desire for personal independence…” – Albert Einstein

“Streben nach Erkenntnis um ihrer selbst willen, an Fanatismus grenzende Liebe zur Gerechtigkeit und Streben nach persönlicher Selbständigkeit…” (German)

(The World As I See It by Albert Einstein, Translated By Alan Harris, California: The Book Tree, 2007, Part IV, The Jews, Jewish Ideals, P. 90)

(The quote in German is found in: Mein Weltbild Von Albert Einstein, Herausgegeben Von Carl Seelig, Ullstein-Taschenbuch-Verlag 2005, IV. Jüdische Probleme Jüdische Ideale, P. 89)

(The quote in German is also found in: Mein Weltbild. Hrsg. von Carl Seelig, Europa Verlag, 1953, IV. Jüdische Probleme Jüdische Ideale, P. 117)

“Regarding sex education: no secrets!” – Albert Einstein

“Bezüglich der Sexualerziehung keine Geheimniskrämerei.” (German)

(The Ultimate Quotable Einstein Collected And Edited By Alice Calaprice, With A Foreword By Freeman Dyson, Princeton University Press, 2010, On Miscellaneous Subjects, Sex Education, P. 451)

(The quote in German is found in: Die Neue Generation, Band 25, Deutscher Bund Für Mutterschutz, Internationale Vereinigung Für Mutterschutz Und Sexualreform, 1929, Seite 287)

(The quote in German is also found in: Ich verfüge nicht über so reiche menschliche Erfahrung, Archival Call Number: 48-304, Hirschfeld, Magnus (Receiver), 1929-09-06, Einstein Archives Online)

Note: Letter to Magnus Hirschfeld of the World League for Sexual Reform, September 6, 1929.

“Man has an intense desire for assured knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

“Die Sehnsucht des Menschen Verlangt Nach Gesicherter Erkenntnis.” (German)

(The quote in German is found in: Mein Weltbild Von Albert Einstein, Herausgegeben Von Carl Seelig, Ullstein-Taschenbuch-Verlag 2005, I. Wie Ich Die Welt Sehe, Bertrand Russell Und Das Philosophische Denken, P. 38)

“…the school is not to produce future officials, scholars, lecturers, barristers, and authors, but human beings, not merely mental machines. Prometheus did not begin his education of mankind with astronomy, but by teaching the properties of fire and its practical uses …” – Albert Einstein

“sollen auf der Schule nicht zukünftige Beamte, Gelehrte, Dozenten, Rechtsanwälte und Bücherschreiber geformt werden, sondern Menschen, nicht bloße Gehirnexistenzen. Prometheus fing bei der Menschen-erziehung” “nicht mit der Astronomie an, sondern mit dem Feuer und der bildnerischen Werktätigkeit…” (German)

(Einstein, The Searcher: His Work Explained From Dialogues With Einstein By Alexander Moszkowski, Translated By Henry L. Brose, London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1921, Ch. IV: Education, P. 68)

(The quote is also found here.)

(The quote in German is also found .)

Note: Here is another source of the free e-book “Einstein, The Searcher: His Work Explained From Dialogues With Einstein” by Alexander Moszkowski.

“A pretty experiment is in itself often more valuable than twenty formulae extracted from our minds…” – Albert Einstein

“Ein hübsches Experiment ist schon an sich oft wertvoller, als zwanzig in der Gedankenretorte entwickelte Formeln…” (German)

(Einstein, The Searcher: His Work Explained From Dialogues With Einstein By Alexander Moszkowski, Translated By Henry L. Brose, London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1921, Ch. IV: Education, P. 69)

(The quote is also found here.)

(The quote in German is found in: Einstein: Einblicke In seine Gedankenwelt; Gemeinverständliche Betrachtungen Über Die Relativitätstheorie Und Ein Neuses Weltsystem, Entwickelt Aus Gesprächen Mit Einstein Von Alexander Moszkowski, Hamburg: Hoffmann Und Campe, 1921, Der Entdecker, P. 77)

(The quote in German is also found here.)

“The education of the individual, in addition to promoting his own innate abilities, would attempt to develop in him a sense of responsibility for his fellow men in place of the glorification of power and success in our present society.” – Albert Einstein

(Why Socialism? By Albert Einstein, Monthly Review, May 01, 2009)

Note: This article was originally published in the first issue of Monthly Review (May 1949).

“…wisdom is not a product of schooling, but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” – Albert Einstein

“Weisheit ist nicht das Ergebnis von Schulbildung, sondern des lebenslangen Versuchs, sie zu erwerben.” (German)

(Albert Einstein, The Human Side: Glimpses From His Archives, Edited By Helen Dukas And Banesh Hoffmann, With A New Foreword By Ze’ev Rosenkranz, Princeton University Press, 2013, Glimpses From His Archives, P. 44)

Note: From the letter Albert Einstein replied to J.Dispentiere, an Italian immigrant on March 24, 1954.

Note: All the above Albert Einstein views on education are quoted from reliable sources.

*Here is a collection of authentic Albert Einstein Mind Blowing quotes with full citations.

These Albert Einstein Views On Education And Teaching Style Could Boost Your Intelligence To Genius Level

Albert Einstein Views On Education

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