Albert Einstein to Max Born ¹

Translated by Irene Born Newton-John Commentary by Max Born [1882–1970] ¹

Hedi [Born, Max’s wife] had sent her play, A Child of America, to Einstein, asking his opinion. ² Einstein’s son-in-law, who had married the eldest of his stepdaughters, Ilse, was the then well-known and respected author and critic, Rudolf Kayser.

4 December 1926

Dear Born,

You will have to be a little patient. My son-in-law is certain to read the play, and I will write to you. But the poor man has to economize with his strength, as his heart is in poor condition. I have reminded him again to give an opinion on the play as soon as possible. I liked the beginning of the play very much, and I think its impact will not be lost on him.

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 any closer to the secret of the “Old One.” I, at any rate, am convinced that He is not playing at dice. Waves in three-dimensional space whose velocity is regulated by potential energy (for example, rubber bands) … I am working very hard at deducing the equations of motion of material points regarded as singularities, given the differential equation of general relativity.

With best wishes,

Yours,

A. Einstein

Einstein’s verdict on quantum mechanics came as a hard blow to me. He rejected it not for any definite reason, but rather by referring to an “inner voice.” This rejection plays an important part in later letters. It was based on a basic difference of philosophical attitude, which separated Einstein from the younger generation to which I felt that I belonged, although I was only a few years younger than Einstein.