Quote #0
The ideals which have always shone before me and filled me with the joy of living are goodness, beauty, and truth.
Albert Einstein
About This Quote
In a short philosophical reflection about what guides his life, Einstein contrasts enduring ideals with the pursuit of comfort or happiness as primary goals. He names the values that, for him, provide direction and make life feel worthwhile.
Interpretation
Einstein is saying that what sustains his motivation and sense of vitality is commitment to moral goodness, appreciation of beauty, and dedication to truth, rather than chasing personal ease or pleasure.
Extended Quotation
The ideals which have always shone before me and filled me with the joy of living are goodness, beauty, and truth. To make a goal of comfort or happiness has never appealed to me; a system of ethics built on this basis would be sufficient only for a herd of cattle.
Variations
The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth.
