A human being is part of the whole called by us universe,
a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts
and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion
of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting
us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to
us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle
of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in
its beauty. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure
and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. We shall
require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive.
(Albert Einstein, 1954)
a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts
and feelings as something separate from the rest. A kind of optical delusion
of consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting
us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to
us. Our task must be to free ourselves from the prison by widening our circle
of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in
its beauty. The true value of a human being is determined by the measure
and the sense in which they have obtained liberation from the self. We shall
require a substantially new manner of thinking if humanity is to survive.
(Albert Einstein, 1954)
