An Incentive, not a Drawback

ALTHOUGH his beginnings were humble, Albert Einstein succeeded in revolutionizing 20th century science. Born on March 14, 1879 in the German city of Ulm, Einstein grew up and was educated in nearby Rotterdam. He was not, as many might expect, a “Teacher’s Pet.” He had been no infant prodigy; indeed, he was so late in learning to speak that his parents feared he was a dullard. (Reader’s Digest, March 2020) An ordinary son of an ordinary father, he showed no signs of having even average abilities in his childhood. He was even once expelled from school because his teacher feared that his poor academic performance coupled with his endless shenanigans might have a bad influence on other pupils.

On completion of his school studies, he failed his entrance examinations at the Swiss Federal Polytechnical School in Zurich. It was only on his second attempt, after due preparation, that he met with success.

Up to the age of twenty, Einstein showed no exceptional potential. In fact, ‘Albert was a lazy dog,’ was how a teacher once described him. Later, by dint of sheer hard work, he rose to such heights as no other modern scientist has been able to surpass. He was one of the greatest scientists the world has ever known. His biographer writes: “We may take heart that it is not necessary to be a good student to become Einstein.”

Einstein’s first scientific book was published when he was 26 years of age, after which his fame spread far and wide. He led a simple life, ate simple food, but often worked late into the night. A hefty financial reward was put on his head for severe criticism of Nazi regime of Germany. At one stage, he was offered the presidentship of Israel, but he declined. He believed, in fact, that politics was the cancer of humanity.

Countless instances have been recorded in history which show that to achieve greatness, it is not necessary to be born great. A man can rise to greatness from the most obscure of beginnings, provided he is willing to strive for it. It is worth remembering that those who have to put up a struggle in the face of severe difficulties are more likely to develop in estimable ways, because adversity calls forth their hidden potential. It throws down a challenge which the aspirant to greatness must accept, failing which, he will sink into oblivion, if not actually perish. Where the comforts and convenience of prosperity will cause him to become sluggish and unenterprising, the whiplash of adversity will drive him into purposeful action. In short, it will bring out the best in him. As Sir Francis Bacon observes in his essay, ‘Of Adversity’: “Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue.”

In the realm of God’s creation, there are no limits to the humanly possible. Having had an undistinguished start in life should never, therefore, be a cause for despair. The ordinary circumstances of life —if we could but realize it—are the stepping stones to success. But before we launch ourselves on this path, we would do well to listen to Sir Francis Bacon’s final words of caution and consolation: “Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and adversity is not without comforts and hopes.”