Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.

Albert Einstein · Recorded by LIFE editor William Miller during a visit to Einstein's Princeton home a few months before his death.

I firmly believe that love [of a subject or hobby] is a better teacher than a sense of duty—at least for me.

Albert Einstein · From a 1940 draft letter to his friend the physicist Philipp Frank; the shared "Love is a better teacher than duty" is a shortening, and the bracketed gloss is the editor's.

Falling in love is not at all the most stupid thing that people do, but gravitation cannot be held responsible for it.

Albert Einstein · Scribbled in 1933 on a letter from a man who argued that gravity, by turning people sideways and upside down as the earth rotates, explained why they do foolish things like falling in love; the meme form "Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love" is the trimmed version.

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.

Booker T. Washington · First printed in his serialised memoir in The Outlook in 1900, then in chapter 2 of Up From Slavery.

Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.

I firmly believe that love [of a subject or hobby] is a better teacher than a sense of duty—at least for me.

Falling in love is not at all the most stupid thing that people do, but gravitation cannot be held responsible for it.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.

We Value Your Opinion Comments

“Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.”

“I firmly believe that love [of a subject or hobby] is a better teacher than a sense of duty—at least for me.”

“Falling in love is not at all the most stupid thing that people do, but gravitation cannot be held responsible for it.”

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.”

“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”

We Value Your Opinion Comments

Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.

I firmly believe that love [of a subject or hobby] is a better teacher than a sense of duty—at least for me.

Falling in love is not at all the most stupid thing that people do, but gravitation cannot be held responsible for it.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.