TLS in German, signed “A. Einstein,” one page, 8.5 x 11, blindstamped personal letterhead, Princeton, July 6, 1953, in full (translated): “You are obviously a good man and you are able to express your ideas and opinions impressively. However, you already proved in your first letter that your critiquing abilities are not the same as the ones mentioned above. Otherwise, you clearly cannot believe what some paid scribbler would write about a contemporary citizen in the ‘Reader’s Digest.’ As neither I nor any of my friends gave any information to him, parts were made up and other parts he took from dubious literature. Furthermore, about that accusation of predatoriness which I indeed cannot fully deny: unfortunately, nature has not loathed the fact that the foundation of the existence of its creatures is based on the fact that they eat each other or destroy each other in some other way. I don’t really see any way in which I could fully deny your claim to power in this matter. But if you only pondered this sufficiently then you would find that even you would not sufficiently manage that claim. However, I can claim with good conscience, that it would be impossible for me to do this destructive business for my personal entertainment. Therefore, I never fished because fortunately I had an indirect way for obtaining the food needed to stay alive. I hope that I hereby gave you a true authentic reason on the basis of which you can truly condemn me.” In fine condition, with a block of very mild toning. Accompanied by a photocopied newspaper article containing the text of the letter.
Following the release of a May, 1953, Reader’s Digest article about Einstein—which pointed out that of the 25 to 35 letters he received each day, all ‘reasonable’ ones were given a response—the 74-year-old scientist received one such letter that he found quite irritating. Denying any input into the article and calmly snapping back to a presumably negative response, he writes, “your critiquing abilities are not the same as the ones mentioned above. Otherwise, you clearly cannot believe what some paid scribbler would write about a contemporary citizen.” Einstein then offers a noteworthy comment in line with his long-held support of animal rights, remarking that while it is true that humanity is built on the foundation of one creature destroying another, “it would be impossible for me to do this destructive business for my personal entertainment.” Ending with a humorous hope that he left the already hostile recipient with “a true authentic reason on the basis of which [to] truly condemn” him, this is a wonderfully sarcastic letter involving the frequently discussed topic of the treatment of animals (and vegetarianism) in the brilliant scientist’s life. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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