A More Understandable Quote

This Einstein quote makes more sense:

If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker.

Einstein said it in 1945 after the release of the atomic bomb. He hadn’t worked on it, in fact he couldn’t have even if he had wanted to… he had been declared a security risk in 1940 because of his pacifist beliefs. He had signed a letter in 1939 warning President Roosevelt that the Germans might be working on a nuclear weapon and urging the president to support scientists in the U.S. studying nuclear fission.

In fact the Germans didn’t develop the atomic bomb and the U.S. did. Einstein regretted having signed the letter and became a spokesman for scientists worried about the bomb.

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12 Responses to A More Understandable Quote

  1. Cheri says:

    I think most of us have a “if only I had known” in our lives…probably more than one:)

    • Jean says:

      I actually can’t think of any for myself, but I’m sure glad I was never world famous and got involved with a decision like that.

  2. Ginny Hartzler says:

    I can see where he would feel real bad about this. Makes me feel good that I am not a genius!

  3. I agree with Cheri, but at fortunate most of our ‘if only scenarios’ didn’t have the power to blow up the world.

  4. Ann Thompson says:

    Knowing ahead of time what the outcome will be could be a very useful tool. Unfortunately I think there are far too many people who would see that outcome and still make the wrong choices.

  5. MadSnapper says:

    hindsight is alwasy 2020 and I don’t have to be a genius to know that. I have a few hindsight moments, but that is looking back, when looking forward I had no clue.. i did not know this about einstein

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