"Astrology is a science in itself and contains an illuminating body of knowledge. It taught me many things and I am greatly indebted to it." Misattributed to Einstein.
Over many years this falsely attributed quote gained traction and eventually mushroomed with the opportunity for unrestricted misinformation granted by the Internet! Despite the popularity, this spurious quote never appealed to me. Unlike Einstein’s numerous brilliant quotes, the words hold no significance and there is no evidence that Einstein studied astrology. I remember reading an article maybe ten years ago in the Astrological Journal confirming that this quote was indeed a
hoax.
Now, Einstein is being misquoted to promote the false notion that he saw astrology as the inner enemy.
Last night, I came across Claire Court's excellent astrology
blog. Having published the erroneous quote unwittingly on her website, she retracted it as soon as she
knew the facts. Showing professional integrity, Claire also copied a large section of the
an article written by Dennis Hamel from the ‘Skeptical Inquirer’
November-December 2007 that investigated the origin of this rogue quote. He claims to have tracked the quote down to Carl Heinrich Huter, author of a German Astrological Almanack published in 1959.
One part of
Hamel’s article concerned me:
“...
I was able to tell Calaprice [Alice
Calaprice, co-editor of The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein] that the word
astrology had most likely been used only on one occasion in print by Einstein,
and then it was in order to excuse Kepler for having practiced astrology
extensively throughout his life as a means to earn a more decent living. In
1951, Einstein wrote an introduction to Carola Baumgardt's 1951 book, Johannes
Kepler: Life and Letters, with an Introduction by Albert Einstein. The last
sentence of his introduction reads as follows:
"The reader should note the
remarks on astrology. They show that [for Kepler] the inner enemy, conquered and
rendered innocuous, was not yet completely dead."
It was then obvious that
the other quote so popular in astrological circles could not possibly have been
written by Albert Einstein.
Shortly after its publication in 2000, I
purchased The Expanded Quotable Einstein. It is with some satisfaction that I
realized that Calaprice took into account my communication to her. She created
(on page 272) an entry for astrology and reproduced the real opinion of Einstein
on the subject, as the "inner enemy." She also put the false quote that
astrologers are so fond of on pages 320-321, in the section '[Attributed to
Einstein]' noting it as "an excellent example of a quotation someone made up and
attributed to Einstein in order to lend an idea credibility. Yet several people
have asked me to confirm it."
What concerned me, is Hamel and Calaprice’s apparent assumption from this snippet that Einstein’s real opinion of astrology was that it was the inner enemy. This struck me as strange. In
all that I have read about Einstein, his biography, writing and quotes, this
seemed out of character. I always had the impression that Einstein
was not the type of scientist who pronounced on subjects about which he knew
nothing. He explored possibilities that were unimaginable to most conventional scientists and
was not known for ruling out any line of thought without thorough
investigation.
“The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Curiosity has its own reason for existing. ” ~ Albert
Einstein
This doubt prompted me to check the quote. And lo and behold!
The context of the full quote gives an entirely different reading from the conveniently edited
extract:
"…He [Kepler] had to realize clearly that logical-mathematical
theorizing, no matter how lucid, could not guarantee truth by itself; that the
most beautiful logical theory means nothing in natural science without
comparison with the exactest experience. Without his philosophic attitude, his
work would not have been possible. He does not speak about this, but the inner
struggle is reflected in the letters. The reader should note the remarks on
astrology. They show that the inner enemy, conquered and rendered innocuous, was
not yet completely dead."
From Einstein's Introduction to Carola Baumgardt's 1951 book, Johannes
Kepler: Life and Letters
IMO Einstein is saying that Kepler struggled
between the theoretical and the empirical. His work was only possible through
this inner struggle. Kepler’s comments on astrology show that his urge towards
observation and personal experience were contained but still alive.
Of
course, my take on Einstein’s thinking could be wrong. However, by taking this
section as a whole, two matters are clear. The ‘inner enemy’ is Kepler’s and
not Einstein’s. Second, Kepler’s inner enemy was the challenge of supporting
his theories with empirical evidence.
So by quoting only part of
Einstein’s comments to create a misleading impression that Einstein saw
astrology as the ‘inner enemy’, Hamel and Calaprice are as guilty as the
perpetrator of the original misquote. Hamel has proved himself to be like a dog
with a bone when it comes to pursuit of the ‘truth’. If he is genuinely interested in the
truth, rather than his own ideology, then he will no doubt be contacting all
those websites from Wikipedia to Susan Boyle’s fansite, where his quote has been unquestioningly recycled out of context to validate their beliefs.
None of us will ever know Einstein's view on astrology and it is an insult to his memory that he should be falsely upheld as a supporter or detractor. In the right column, I have listed my (biased) selection of Einstein quotes and I leave it to anyone reading this to draw their own conclusions as to
what Einstein might have thought.
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Note! Denis Hamel has contacted me to question the content of this article. So please keep in mind that the text may need to be modified with his new evidence.
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"Everything is
determined, the beginning as well as the end, by forces over which we have no
control. It is determined for insects as well as for the stars. Human beings,
vegetables or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the
distance by an invisible piper." ~ Albert Einstein
"It is the theory that decides what we
can observe." ~ Albert Einstein
"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 what this delicate little plant needs more than anything, besides
stimulation, is freedom. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment
of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of
duty." ~ Albert Einstein
"No, this trick won't work...How on earth are you ever going to
explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon
as first love?" ~ Albert Einstein
"To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists,
manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our
dull facilities can comprehend only in the most primitive forms--this knowledge,
this feeling, is at the center of true religiousness. In this sense, and in this
sense only, I belong to the ranks of the devoutly religious men." ~ Albert Einstein
"Those
people have seen 'something'. What it is I do not know and I can not care to
know." ~ Albert Einstein (on flying saucers)
"Quantum mechanics is certainly imposing. But
an inner voice tells me that it is not yet the real thing. The theory says a
lot, but does not really bring us closer to the secret of the 'Old One.' I, at
any rate, am convinced that He is not playing at dice." ~ Albert Einstein
"The important
thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One
cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of
life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to
comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy
curiosity." ~ Albert Einstein
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not
everything that counts can be counted." ~ Albert Einstein
These quotes are to the best of my belief made by Albert Einstein. However, I have not checked the exact original
source of each quote so if any are misattributed, please let me know and I will take them down
immediately!
Over many years this falsely attributed quote gained traction and eventually mushroomed with the opportunity for unrestricted misinformation granted by the Internet! Despite the popularity, this spurious quote never appealed to me. Unlike Einstein’s numerous brilliant quotes, the words hold no significance and there is no evidence that Einstein studied astrology. I remember reading an article maybe ten years ago in the Astrological Journal confirming that this quote was indeed a
hoax. 
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