Two notes, written at a pivotal moment in Albert Einstein‘s life, explained his theory on happiness in just a few short sentences. This bit of wisdom from a man considered to be one of the greatest geniuses in human history was sold at auction for a whopping $1.5 million.
In October 1922, Einstein traveled to Japan to deliver a series of lectures. En route to Japan, he received a telegram informing him that he had been awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics. Rather than cancel his lectures in order to attend the presentation ceremony in Stockholm in December, Einstein chose to continue on to Japan. Overnight, the physicist went from relative obscurity to fame and fortune. He was overwhelmed by the crowds in Japan who came out to greet him.
When he arrived at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, he tried to compose himself by recording his thoughts on a sheet of the hotel’s stationery. When a messenger came to his room, Einstein did not have money to tip him. He decided to make the most of his newfound fame gave the messenger two of his writings. When he gave him the notes, he told the messenger to keep them, as their future value may be much higher than a standard tip.
Einstein was very smart indeed, and his prediction about the notes came true. The notes were sold on Tuesday at an auction at Winner’s Auction and Exhibitions in Jerusalem. The first note contained the sage advice, “A calm and humble life will bring more happiness than the pursuit of success and the constant restlessness that comes with it”. It was expected to fetch about $5,000 but may go down in history as the most generous tip in history. The bidding stopped at $1.56 million, an all-time record for an auction of a document in Israel.
A second note, written at the same time, gives further advice: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Also estimated to sell for $5,000, it sold for $240,000.
The seller is reported to be the nephew of the messenger. It has been reported that the buyer of one of the notes was a European who wished to remain anonymous.
Two letters written by Einstein were sold at the same auction. A letter written in 1947 in which Einstein Expresses willingness to assist the chairman of the Jerusalem Art Gallery was sold for $9,600. Another letter Einstein wrote in 1954 to Alexander Brenner about the Hebrew University was sold for $33,600. Einstein was deeply attached to Israel. He was one of the founders of the Hebrew University. He was asked to serve as Israel’s first president but decclined.
