To Heinrich Zangger [Berlin], 27 February 1920
Albert should not get the feeling that his Papa doesn’t worry about his upkeep. During the summer holidays I would like to have Albert, or better still, both children here. I want to stay by a lake with them and go sailing with them every day. It would surely do the children some good, and I too urgently need some relaxation in natural surroundings.
To Hans Albert Einstein [Berlin,] 27 February 1920
I hope you received the package of music scores. I packed into it everything I could find that was suitable. In summer let’s try to carry out our planned sailing excursion with our very own sailboat. I will start the search very soon. Do you think we can take Tete along? When does your summer vacation begin? Write me about that soon, also about how long it is. My poor mother died. That’s why I’m master of my time in the summer.
To Heinrich Zangger [Berlin], 26 March 1920
Over here confusion reigns, corruption and cut-throat dictatorship. The military is murdering with impunity, that miserable bunch! The barbarity is horrendous. The government is weak with a leaning toward shady compromise. Soon I shall be able to take care of my family again, at least for the next few years. One can’t plan far in advance these days, anyway. In May I’ll be in Holland. I’d like to have the boys here to see me for the summer holidays, at least Albert. As Switzerland is out of the question owing to the valuta (foreign exchange rate), I’d like to have them here with me by a lake for sailing.
To Michele Besso [New York], before 30 May 1921
America is interesting; for all its industry and business it is more easily aroused to enthusiasm than other countries I have unsettled with my presence. I had to let myself be shown around like a prize ox, speak countless times in large and small assemblies, deliver countless scientific lectures. It’s a miracle that I endured it.
On Monday my ship leaves for Europe. I’ll be staying in England for a few days, then I get my long-deserved peace. In July my boys are coming to see me again, to my great joy. I want to go sailing with them on a northern German lake.
To Hans Albert and Eduard Einstein [Berlin], 4 March 1922
From your letter I see that all is well with you, particularly that noble Musica is flourishing. I meanwhile bought a most lovable sailboat with a sail in impeccable condition, so our time together at the so-called castle will be magnificent. We’re going to play music on Katzenstein’s grand piano, which he’s happy to make available to us. We’ll have to drive there for half an hour or walk for an hour, though. But that won’t put us off. You’re entirely right about dancing, dear Albert, one has to do something for the fairer sex, whom as experience shows one cannot do without.
To Oskar Heimann [Berlin], 20 May 1922
Dear Mr. Heimann,
When the boat was picked up at Naglow Wharf, two deficiencies not in conformity with our purchase agreement were found, completely disregarding the necessity of a few minor repairs, namely:
1) The delivered tarpaulin does not fit on the boat and is therefore not usable as such.
2) The batons for the sail were missing, so the wharf had to make new ones.
Accordingly I request of you:
1) To hand over to me the fitted tarpaulin belonging to the boat in exchange for the one delivered.
2) To please settle that part of the wharf’s bill concerning the batons.
Requesting a reply soon, I am, very respectfully,
A. Einstein
To Elsa Einstein [Kiel], 8 July 1923
This evening popping over to Gothenburg. The lecture is ready. It was wonderful here, partly because we now have a sailing vessel, on which I sailed daily around the Bay of Kiel with Messrs. Anschütz and Richter. Tomorrow morning (Niels) Bohr and I will be together. Then it’s onwards to Gothenburg in the afternoon.
To Elsa Einstein [Kiel], 2 September 1923
The trip proceeded well. In Wittenbergen I met Albert according to schedule. Around 4 o’clock we arrived and came here by tram. Then we immediately went sailing. This morning we went sailing with Mr. Richter and were caught in a huge downpour. If only I had taken the white trousers along! Now I’m sitting in my coat and underpants because the rest has to dry.
To Elsa Einstein [Kiel], 7 September 1923
Another half-week is over. We go sailing all afternoon, weather permitting, right into the open sea and let ourselves be rocked by the waves. Mornings and evenings we work and play music. One is almost ashamed to live so nicely and worry-free during such a time of tumultuous events.
To Heinrich Zangger [Kiel], 9 September 1923
I am coming to Bonn now after all, on the 17th to be precise. I am staying privately at Prof. A. Pflüger’s home, who surely has a telephone. Albert is with me here; we are spending wonderful days together in the finest harmony, with sailing and physics.
To Betty Neumann [Bonn], 21 September 1923
In Kiel it really was very nice with my athletic boy; but something was missing nonetheless… We went out into the open sea with our sailing vessel among brisk waves. That’s a wonderful thing. It looks quite critical back at home now, like before the thunderstorm. One feels something approaching with giant steps and doesn’t quite know what.
To Maja Winteler-Einstein [Berlin], between 25 and 30 April 1924
Things have calmed down for me, too, at least on the outside. But the devil of physics has grabbed me by the collar and is teasing me by tantalizing me with the fata morgana of an imminent solution to my problem, only to stick out its tongue at me again after a while. On Thursday I’ll be going to Kiel for a few weeks into my retreat in order to do a bit of technical work and to—go sailing.
To Heinrich Zangger [Kiel], 15 May 1924
I am in my Kiel cloister once again, between pondering and sailing. The latter succeeds more easily.
I am glad that you think so well of Albert. I like him, too, in his modest, cautious, and level-headed way. I got to know him best while sailing. You may laugh about that, but it is very telling how someone acts in momentary danger amidst the wind and waves. Reliability and strength of nerves are revealed as well as healthy good humor. Switzerland is also the best school for a developing person.
The French elections please me very much. It must be a healthy people to get over the dangers of victory so soon. No more predominance of the military and reactionaries. The people here could take that as a model.
To Hans Albert and Eduard Einstein [Berlin], 28 November 1924
I don’t know if I can still visit you before my trip to South America. The ship leaves from Hamburg on March 5. What a pity that I can’t take either of you along because school doesn’t permit it. I’ll just have to travel alone. Then in the summer I’ll also be going to Kiel, where all three of us may be together. Tete has to go on a rigorous sail once, too. It’s the best fortifier for health. I’m lying in bed right now with a stubborn flu. But it’s already getting better.
To Elsa Einstein [Kiel], 21 August 1925
I am glad that you had a nice and varied trip. You will probably be happy all the same when you are back home again where one is undisturbed for the most part. As nice as it is here, I feel the same way you do. Old acquaintances from Winterthur are here at present, but they will be leaving again soon. The man was truly seasick yesterday while sailing in completely calm weather. It was absolutely comical.
To Michele Besso [Berlin], 25 December 1925
I’m glad that you are having such a good time with your little grandchildren. Hopefully we’ll be seeing each other in summertime. I am certainly coming to Switzerland, to go to the mountains with Tete somehow. He’s been wanting to do that for so long, because he isn’t a sailing nut like his old man.
To Hans Albert Einstein [Berlin], 12 May 1928
I’m doing better, but still not exactly well. I’m still lying in bed and weak. In June I’ll probably go to Kissingen, where the devil is supposed to be driven out by the baths. Then we’re going to the Baltic—you just have to. I want to see if we can sail by then. You can, for sure.
To Heinrich Zangger [Berlin], 6 April 1929
Dear Zangger,
You mustn’t complain, but instead cut down. If I lived the way you do, with so much excitement and work, I’d have long since been pushing up daisies. The slightest irregularity, too much talking or drinking, and the devil is sure to pop up and give me a private lesson at night instead of letting me sleep.
You should think the same way and devote the rest of your life to contemplative repose. God also needs peaceful observers who admire his work without feeling compelled to thrash about. I received a sailboat for my birthday in which I intend to whip around the Berlin lakes all summer.
Come here and we’ll sail together all day long and calmly contemplate nature. Then your heart will become calm and happy again. Just give up all pedantry and let a successor investigate crimes and car accidents.
Kind regards from your,
A. Einstein
