Einstein‘s father wrote a letter to Professor Oswald Herrmann for considering his son Einstein for an assistant position with him. Following is the letter.

 “Please forgive a father who is so bold as to turn to you, esteemed professor, in the interest of his son. Albert, 22 years old, studied at Zürich Polytechnic for four years and passed his exams with flying colors last summer. Since then, he has been trying unsuccessfully to get a position as a teaching assistant, which would enable him to continue his education in physics.

 

Those in a position to judge praise his talents. He is extraordinarily studious and diligent, and clings with great love to his science. He, therefore, feels profoundly unhappy about his lack of a job and becomes more and more convinced that he has gone off track with his career.

 

In addition, he is oppressed by the thought that he is a burden to us, people of modest means. My son seems to admire you more than any other scholar in physics. It is to you that I have taken the liberty of turning with the humble request to read his paper and to write to him, if possible, a few words of encouragement.

 

So that he might recover his joy in living, and, if in addition, you could secure him an assistant position, my gratitude would know no bounds. I beg you to forgive me for my impudence in writing to you, and my son does not know anything about my unusual step.”