

In 1931, Albert Einstein wrote the following short letter of admiration to another of the world’s greatest minds, Mohandas Gandhi. Despite their intentions, the pair never met in person. Einstein can also be heard speaking of Gandhi in the above clip — an excerpt from an interview recorded in 1950, two years after Gandhi’s death.

Transcript and translation follow, as does the text of Gandhi’s reply.

(Source: GandhiServe Foundation.)

Transcript

ALBERT EINSTEIN Verehrter Herr Gandhi Ich benutze die Anwesenheit Ihres Freundes in unserem Hause, um Ihnen diese Zeilen zu senden. Sie haben durch Ihr Wirken gezeigt, dass man ohne Gewalt Grosses selbst bei solchen durchsetzen kann, welche selbst auf die Methode der Gewalt keineswegs verzichtet haben. Wir dürfen hoffen, dass Ihr Beispiel über die Grenzen Ihres Landes hinaus wirken und dazu beitragen wird, dass an die Stelle kriegerischer Konflikte Entscheidungen einer internationalen Instanz treten, deren Durchführung von allen garantiert wird. Mit den Ausdruck aufrichtiger Bewunderung Ihr (Signed, ‘A. Einstein’) Ich hoffe, dass ich Sie noch einmal von Angesicht sehen werde.

Translation

Respected Mr. Gandhi I use the presence of your friend in our home to send you these lines. You have shown through your works, that it is possible to succeed without violence even with those who have not discarded the method of violence. We may hope that your example will spread beyond the borders of your country, and will help to establish an international authority, respected by all, that will take decisions and replace war conflicts. With sincere admiration, Yours (Signed, ‘A. Einstein’) I hope that I will be able to meet you face to face some day.

Gandhi’s response

LONDON, October 18, 1931 DEAR FRIEND, I was delighted to have your beautiful letter sent through Sundaram. It is a great consolation to me that the work I am doing finds favour in your sight. I do indeed wish that we could meet face to face and that too in India at my Ashram. Yours sincerely, (Signed, ‘M. K. Gandhi’)