“A human being is part of the whole, called by us
Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences
himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from
the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This
delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our
personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to
us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by
widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures
and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
―Albert Einstein
Source/Notes:
Letter of 1950. As quoted in The New York Times, 29 March
1972
