Somebody who only reads newspapers and at best books of contemporary authors looks to me like an extremely near-sighted person who scorns eyeglasses. He is completely dependent on the prejudices and fashions of his times, since he never gets to see or hear anything else.
Interpretation
Relying solely on contemporary media limits one's perspective and understanding of the world.
In this quote, Albert Einstein emphasizes the importance of broadening one’s intellectual horizons beyond modern media and literature. He likens someone who only consumes contemporary sources to a near-sighted person who refuses to wear glasses, suggesting that such limited exposure results in a narrow worldview shaped by current trends and biases, preventing true understanding and insight.
In practice
In a speech about the value of diverse literary sources, one could cite Einstein's quote to encourage students to explore a wider range of literature.
I cannot then believe in this concept of an anthropomorphic God who has the powers of interfering with these natural laws. As I said before, the most beautiful and most profound religious emotion that we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. And this mysticality is the power of all true science.
If I would follow your advice and Jesus could perceive it, he, as a Jewish teacher, surely would not approve of such behavior.
I want to know all Gods thoughts; all the rest are just details.
In the middle of adversity there is great opportunity.
I do not believe that civilization will be wiped out in a war fought with the atomic bomb. Perhaps two-thirds of the people of the earth will be killed.
To me the worst thing seems to be a school principally to work with methods of fear, force and artificial authority. Such treatment destroys the sound sentiments, the sincerity and the self-confidence of pupils and produces a subservient subject.
Liberate the minds of men and ultimately you will liberate the bodies of men.
The worst is that the very hardest thinking will not bring thoughts. They must come like good children of God and cry, "Here we are." You expend effort and energy thinking hard. Then, after you have given up, they come sauntering in with their hands in their pockets. If the effort had not been made to open the door, however, who knows when they could have come.
Some people like to read so many [Bible] chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up in your very soul, till it saturates your heart!
Patience and tenacity are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness.
Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.
Keep thy hook always baited, for a fish lurks even in the most unlikely swim.
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