Quote of the Day by Albert Einstein: ‘If I was not a physicist, I would probably be a musician…’ - why your favorite hobby can simply be something you love, not another way to make money

There are things we do because they are useful, things we do because they are expected of us, and then there are the things we do because, for a little while, they make the world feel more alive and joyous.

We are often taught to measure our lives by what can be named: the work we have done, the degrees we have earned, the problems we have solved, the things we have made. Even our passions can become another form of achievement, something to perfect, monetize or eventually turn into a profession. But some of the most sustaining pleasures in life ask for none of this. They ask only to be loved.

For Albert Einstein, one such love was music. The physicist whose mind transformed our understanding of space, time and the universe found a different kind of freedom in the violin. He did not need to become a celebrated musician for music to matter. He needed only the experience of playing it, of thinking through it, of finding in its sound something that belonged to him beyond the demands of his extraordinary public life.


Quote of the Day by Albert Einstein: “If I was not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. ... I cannot tell if I would have done any creative work of importance in music, but I do know that I get most joy in life out of my violin.”

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Why Albert Einstein’s words on music and creativity matter today

What Einstein has said is important because it draws a distinction between our work and our true sense of self. We may give up our time, diligence, and dedication to our careers, but that doesn’t mean they make up for everything about us. What Einstein loved about the violin shows that an individual, even one known for being a genius, may discover his true pleasure in a pursuit other than his vocation.

It is important to note that there is freedom in the fact that Einstein did not know whether he would have succeeded as a musician had he decided to pursue a career in it. Like most aspiring people nowadays, he didn’t have to make his hobby into a career; the music was valuable simply because it brought joy.

What this powerful wisdom means in real life

The message of Einstein is not just about playing an instrument. It is about guarding those aspects of ourselves that lie beyond accomplishment. Not every interest of ours should become our career. Not all creativity should have an audience. And everything we are passionate about doesn't necessarily have to result in measurable achievements. The importance of some hobbies may precisely consist in the fact that they are something we do for the sheer pleasure of it.

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For someone tired of work, unsure about their professional future, or afraid of not having accomplished enough yet, Einstein's words can offer a different perspective on life. Accomplishment isn't the only thing that brings happiness to one's existence. It is equally important to leave room for what inspires, captivates, and makes one joyful.

His violin wasn't yet another addition to his CV. It was something he enjoyed. And maybe the true lesson of Einstein's message is that there is more to accomplishment than leading a fulfilling life.

About Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Württemberg, Germany, on March 14, 1879. His family later moved to Munich, and he continued his education in Switzerland before entering the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in Zurich in 1896 to study physics and mathematics.

After earning his diploma in 1901 and struggling to find a teaching position, Einstein accepted a job as a technical assistant at the Swiss Patent Office. He continued working on scientific problems in his spare time and earned his doctorate in 1905, the same year in which he published several groundbreaking papers.

Einstein later held academic positions in Bern, Zurich, Prague and Berlin. In 1933, after the Nazis came to power, he renounced his German citizenship and emigrated to the United States, where he became a professor at Princeton. He became a US citizen in 1940 and retired in 1945.

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Albert Einstein and his legacy

Einstein transformed modern physics through work that included the special and general theories of relativity, research into Brownian motion and contributions to quantum theory. He received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his explanation of the photoelectric effect.

Beyond science, Einstein became a prominent public figure who wrote and spoke about war, peace, politics, philosophy and society. He also played a role in establishing the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was offered the presidency of Israel, which he declined. He died on April 18, 1955, in Princeton, New Jersey.