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Einstein's Note On Happiness, Given To Bellboy In 1922, Fetches $1.6 Million (theguardian.com)

Posted by msmash on from the dispatch dept.

A note that Albert Einstein gave to a courier in Tokyo briefly describing his theory on happy living has sold at auction in Jerusalem for $1.56m, according to auctioneers. From a report: The winning bid for the note far exceeded the pre-auction estimate of between $5,000 and $8,000, according to Winner's auctions. "It was an all-time record for an auction of a document in Israel," said Winner's spokesman Meni Chadad, adding that the buyer was a European who wished to remain anonymous. The note, on Imperial Hotel Tokyo stationery, says in German that "a quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest." "I am really happy that there are people out there who are still interested in science and history and timeless deliveries in a world which is developing so fast," the seller said on condition of anonymity after the sale.

43 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. So, the note about "modest living" by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 5, Funny

    Einstein's note, advocating "modest living", sells for an insane amount at an auction that only the uber-rich could possibly afford. The irony is palpable.

    --
    Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    1. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It does not matter, the important thing is the words and their meaning.

      “A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest.”

      I just made a copy above, for free.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by NicknameUnavailable · · Score: 5, Funny

      I thought the important thing was that Einstein proved you can get out of tipping the service by writing them a note talking about how they should want less.

    3. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      It's sad how some non-Americans have never developed a sense of humor.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    4. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by TsuruchiBrian · · Score: 1

      It's like a math equation. You can refactor it into:
      "If you pursue success bound with constant unrest, you can buy this note about a quiet modest joyful life that you don't have."

    5. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by gnick · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's cute how Americans think tipping is a standard, socially required thing in the rest of the world.

      I think that most Americans are aware that it's an American thing. What else are we supposed to do? Pay everyone working full time enough to live? Even waiters and doormen? If they wanted to eat, they should have become engineers.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
    6. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by Kreplock · · Score: 1

      If you eliminated tips and paid waitstaff an increased minimum wage of $15/hour most would suffer a pay cut.

    7. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by MangoCats · · Score: 1

      But your copy has no monetary value, sure we can all share the wisdom for free, but if you want to exchange it for something else you'll find it has no fungible value.

    8. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by gnick · · Score: 2

      But your copy has no monetary value...

      Every copy has the same monetary value as the original. Source? The MPAA's piracy damage estimates.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
    9. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

      Oh, nice one. I hope someone uses that defense in court someday.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    10. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by dr_canak · · Score: 1

      My uncle saw (while visiting Palm Beach many, many years ago) several stores with these big checks signed by Jackie Onassis. He asked a store employee about them. Evidently, she had these *large*, perfectly legal checks custom designed. She would pay for expensive merchandise using these checks knowing full well the store would frame the check as eye candy, rather than cash it.

    11. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by Kjella · · Score: 1

      It does not matter, the important thing is the words and their meaning.

      I think the causality is dubious though, if you're happy with what you have you don't need to chase the rainbow while if you're unhappy you'll pursue a different life. While it could be interpreted to mean you should appreciate what you have more there's only so much positive thinking can do and only so much you can change your personality and ambition. I doubt "give up and settle for less" is good advice even if it would have been a good thing if you could. And to be honest, writing that the year after you won the Nobel prize seems a bit sanctimonious. Yeah, I too could rest on my laurels a bit more with a Nobel prize under my belt.

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
    12. Re: So, the note about "modest living" by guruevi · · Score: 1

      Your definition of âoemodestâ is based on your current standing in life. I could make enough money to buy that thing and still remain âoemodestâ and happy with my life.

      I make more money than I have ever before in life and I am much more happy and still consider myself just as modest even though I no longer have to scrape for rent of a 200sqft flat.

      --
      Custom electronics and digital signage for your business: www.evcircuits.com
    13. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by Richard_at_work · · Score: 1

      Can you not request the cheque be returned to you after you cash it? You can here in the U.K...

    14. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

      Then...eliminate tips and pay the waitstaff an increased wage equivalent to the tip money that became a part of the food price instead, and not just the minimum wage?

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    15. Re: So, the note about "modest living" by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      Your definition of âoemodestâ .

      I couldn't find a definition for "âoemodestâ" in any dictionary. Is that perhaps a foreign word?

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    16. Re:So, the note about "modest living" by Kreplock · · Score: 1

      Why?

  2. More cliche's about happiness by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

    Happy Wife, Happy Life

    Secret to Happiness in 3 words: Remove false expectations.

    /Cynical I guess wasting frivolous amounts of money on a dead guy's note made someone happy. Namely the seller.

    1. Re:More cliche's about happiness by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 1

      Happy Wife, Happy Life

      The problem is, you can never make women happy which means you can never have a happy life.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
    2. Re:More cliche's about happiness by thinkwaitfast · · Score: 1

      It probably made the buyer happy too.

    3. Re:More cliche's about happiness by peragrin · · Score: 1

      If you can't make a particular woman happy then you are wrong for each other.

      My SO I make happy everyday. It is little things that we do together (cooking dishes, cleaning)plus in sex we play a game. She has to orgasm at least twice as often as I do. The higher I can keep her orgasm count the better. Now being a guy that is difficult but I have 10 fingers and a willingness to try a combo with every single oone of them.

      --
      i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
    4. Re: More cliche's about happiness by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      You are doing it wrong.

      Why do you even have a gold digger in the first place??? Find someone who treats you with respect.

  3. Slightly related trivia... by Type44Q · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Trivia for architecture geeks and/or enthusiasts of Japanese history: the Imperial Hotel (torn down in '67) was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and was one of the only buildings to remain standing after the Great Kanto Earthquake devastated Tokyo. more here.

    1. Re:Slightly related trivia... by 110010001000 · · Score: 2

      I guarantee the roof leaked though.

    2. Re:Slightly related trivia... by 140Mandak262Jamuna · · Score: 1
      And the floor would be so uneven, only three legged stools could be used as chairs.

      Saw falling water. My friend commented, "It is a once in a lifetime experience to visit Falling Water. I mean I would never come here again, so help ne God!"

      --
      sed -e 's/Chuck Norris/Rajnikant/g' joke > fact
    3. Re:Slightly related trivia... by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      I guarantee the roof leaked though.

      I suppose they coud've positioned these below the leaks. :)

    4. Re:Slightly related trivia... by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      And people still havent't figured out why Wright named it what he did...

  4. This just proves that... by shikra · · Score: 1

    ...you CAN buy happiness with money :-) :-(

  5. The cliche's might be right by WrongMonkey · · Score: 1

    There is growing body of legitimate scientific research on the best ways to achieve happiness. This research confirms a lot of the old cliches; the strongest contributing factors to happiness are meaningful relationships with family and friends, contributing to the community and a connection with nature. It makes sense when you recognize that our brains evolved 250,000 years ago and the conditions that optimize happiness are the same ones that were available before money, fame or luxury travel were ever invented.

    1. Re:The cliche's might be right by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

      > This research confirms a lot of the old cliches; the strongest contributing factors to happiness are meaningful relationships with family and friends,

      Agreed.

      Simon Sinek on Millennials in the Workplace

    2. Re:The cliche's might be right by gnick · · Score: 1

      It makes sense when you recognize that our brains evolved 250,000 years ago and the conditions that optimize happiness are the same ones that were available before money, fame or luxury travel were ever invented.

      Some people would claim that our brains are still evolving. Other people might claim that our brain started evolving even before the emergence of mammals.

      I'm not trying to discount your point. Happiness is an ancient drive, predating $$, etc. I am suggesting that happiness hasn't reached its final form and that it's older (and not specific to) the species.

      --
      He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.
  6. Get it in writing by T.E.D. · · Score: 2

    This is why people get irate when you give advice as a "tip". That's totally inconsiderate ... unless you write it down.

    1. Re:Get it in writing by arth1 · · Score: 1

      What's inconsiderate is to not pay your employees enough to not rely on gratuities.
      No one should have to pay gratuity for someone just doing their job, but may choose to do so when the person provides a higher service level than what they were hired to provide.

      In this case, the delivery was unsolicited, and Einstein thus had no obligation to give a tip in any case. You can't just show up at anyone's door with something the recipient never asked for and expect a tip for that.

  7. Re:"News" ... by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 1

    I member! /memberberries

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
  8. So, did he tip the bellboy after all? by snikulin · · Score: 1

    Just curious :)

  9. Happiness is relative by Alain+Williams · · Score: 2

    even with similar life rewards (good health, nice home, good spouse & kids, ...) those living the slow, rural life will tend to be happier than a frenetic, fast living city dweller.

  10. Timeless Deliveries? by WheezyJoe · · Score: 1

    "I am really happy that there are people out there who are still interested in science and history and timeless deliveries in a world which is developing so fast," the seller said on condition of anonymity after the sale.

    What does that mean? Amazon's ultimate objective for world domination? What secret is written on the back of that note?

    --
    Take it easy, Charlie, I've got an Angle...
  11. Ah, Einstein the wife beater by iggymanz · · Score: 1

    No mention on the paper was Einstein's use of his wife as a stress ball/punching bag

  12. Re:He was a Jew by alexo · · Score: 1

    On the off case that it wasn't a troll.

  13. "Thank you Einstein..." by s1d3track3D · · Score: 1

    A quiet and modest life brings more joy than a pursuit of success bound with constant unrest.

    Thank you Einstein...

  14. Bringing to light a simple truth, via insanity by elcor · · Score: 1

    any mean is good to bring balance back to a few who need it.

  15. Re:So, the note about "modest living"FTFY by zlives · · Score: 1

    engineers are working class,
    " they should have become" billionaires...

  16. From theory to practice by anddna · · Score: 1

    It's all relative, you know.