Einstein (Albert, theoretical physicist

Einstein (Albert, theoretical physicist, 1879-1955) Autograph Letter signed to Adrien Wils,

in German, 1p. & envelope, 4to, Princeton, 26th December 1936, in response to a paper Wils has sent Einstein on the theory of relativity, (unfortunately, I cannot recommend your manuscript for printing, because it doesn't reflect the essentials of the theory. It's completely wrong that it is named 'theory of relativity". The name is only justifiable in case of talking about movement when you consider it relative to another one. This simple fact should be used consequently in all your considerations. This topic has nothing to do with the superficial statement that "everything is relative". To start with, it is correct to say that every rational statement expresses a relation. But the relation, expressed in the statement, has always an absolute meaning. This is of course self evident. Of course this is also valid for the theory of relativity and all statements made within this theory. This is, by the way, not a philosophical theory, but purely physical. It is an attempt to explain a certain group of processes in a more satisfying way than it was before. The twaddle that the theory is extremely difficult to understand, is complete nonsense, spread out by superficial journalists), folds, slightly foxed and browned.

***Einstein dismisses a paper on the theory of relativity..