A thought for you

Source and interview context

These three sentences appear in George Sylvester Viereck’s interview What Life Means to Einstein, published in The Saturday Evening Post on 26 October 1929, printed page 117, first text column.

Read the interview scan (PDF page 5, hosted by gwern.net). This establishes the wording of the published English report; it is not an audio record of the conversation.

An idea still needs a check

Viereck asks Einstein about trusting imagination and knowledge. Einstein begins by comparing his imaginative freedom to an artist’s. Shortly before that, he discusses intuition and experimental confirmation. The surrounding exchange does not make an appealing idea its own proof.

Turn two ideas into one small trial

Choose a manageable everyday problem, such as an awkward storage arrangement. Sketch two different solutions before choosing one. Then note a real constraint for each: available space, time or materials. Try a small version rather than reorganising everything at once. Decide beforehand what improvement you will look for – for example, whether you can find three frequently used items faster. Afterwards, record what actually became easier and what still gets in the way. An unsuccessful trial can inform your next change; you do not have to describe it as a success. This exercise is a suggestion from Motivation4you, not part of the interview.

English wording and context reviewed 27 October 2026. Editorial note and exercise: Motivation4you.