I just found this fantastic website that "attempt(s) to gather and sort fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes, and memos" of famous people from Conan O'Brian to Adolf Hitler. Seriously, a fantastic collection of primary sources.
Letters of Note
For instance, there is one letter Albert Einstein wrote to the philosopher Erik Gutkind where, after reading the latter's book, he wrote (among other interesting criticisms and points), that;
Albert Einstein to Erik Gutkind wrote:
" ? I would never have gotten myself to engage intensively with your book because it is written in a language inaccessible to me. The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weakness, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still purely primitive, legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this. ... For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstition. And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong ... have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything "chosen" about them."
Letters of Note: The word God is the product of human weakness
Here is another one I found really amusing. I honestly don't have any idea as to the author's book or its content, but something tells me I would really get along well with him. The sign-off with the blurb in question is classic.
Harlan Ellison to Amy Stout wrote: HARLAN ELLISON
12 February 92
Dear Amy:
You may use this on Connie's new book. In full, no ellipses, no altering for any edition. And send me a copy of the book, please. And warn the troll drones in your art and publicity departments that if they f*ck around with the quote, change it or alter it for a meaning not intended, I will come and find them and kill them so dead I'll murder their ancestors!
Charmingly,
(Signed)
"The writing of Connie Willis is irresistable. Clever, cunning, and capable of tantalizing the most demanding reader."
Letters of Note: Don't F*ck With The Quote
Awesome.
Give the site a look through and post anything interesting you find. I found some other really good letters from George Washington and so on, so you are sure to find something interesting.
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