The Ultimate Quotable Einstein by Albert Einstein

I realize that much may be lost in translation, especially in poetry, and maybe it is a mistake to include in this volume some verses translated from Einstein's meticulous German into English. However, a number of people have asked me to do so. Though many of these translations, gleaned from a variety of sources, sound awkward, readers may get a sense of the extent-and sometimes the limitations-of Einstein's poetic talents. The rhythm and rhyme of most of the poems are similar to those of the German poet Wilhelm Busch of "Max und Moritz" fame, and most are infused with humor, often tongue-in-cheek. Unfortunately, not all of these translations have that effect. The verses, poems, and limericks in the Einstein Archives number in the hundreds. Most are untitled and were often sent to Einstein's friends in place of a letter, or added to a photograph or postcard. I've added the translator's name if it is known.

*Wherever I go and wherever I stay / There's always a picture of me on display. / On top of the desk, or out in the hall, Tied round a neck, or hung on the wall. / Women and men, they play a strange game, Asking, beseeching: "Please sign your name. " / From the erudite fellow they brook not a quibble But firmly insist on a piece of his scribble. / Sometimes, surrounded by all this good cheer, I'm puzzled by some of the things that I hear, / And wonder, my mind for a moment not hazy, If I and not they could really be crazy.