These brilliant men and women have revolutionized science, medicine, and our understanding of the cosmos. But what do they tell their kids before bedtime?
Albert Einstein on the best way to learn something new
“Play the things on the piano which please you, even if the teacher does not assign those. That is the way to learn the most, that when you are doing something with such enjoyment that you don’t notice that the time passes.” —Albert Einstein in a heartwarming letter to his son, Hans Albert
Stephen Hawking on the most important thing in life
Marie Curie on the power of confidence
“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” —Marie Curie, quoted by her daughter, Éve, in Madame Curie: A Biography
Bill Nye on the #1 thing to remember about other people
“Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t. Auto mechanics today write code and debug software. Cooks understand the use of copper to control egg proteins. Bricklayers have intimate knowledge of the strength of materials. Respect their knowledge. Learn from them. It will bring out the best in both of you.” —Bill Nye, in a Rutgers University commencement speech
Neil deGrasse Tyson on dealing with obstacles
“I have colleagues with dyslexia. It’s a hurdle—but in the Olympics, what do you do when you come to a hurdle? You jump over it.” —Neil deGrasse Tyson, responding to an eight-year-old girl concerned that her dyslexia could prevent a career in science
E.O. Wilson's challenge to the next generation
"Keep your eyes lifted and your head turning. The search for knowledge is in our genes. It was put there by our distant ancestors who spread across the world, and it's never going to be quenched." —Biologist E.O. Wilson, in a TED talk to young scientists