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Attribution note
No reliable primary or scholarly source confirms this exact wording as Albert Einstein's. It is widely circulated under his name and is listed as commonly attributed.
About this quote
This wording, beginning "If I had known they were going to do this,…," circulates under Einstein's name and focuses on known, going, become. No strong source for the exact text was found, so the page presents it as commonly attributed while still explaining its practical connection to wisdom and life.
When to use it
- Use "If I had known they were going to do this,…" in a wisdom discussion, then ask which concrete claim the wording makes.
- Compare its treatment of known with going in a lesson, essay, or editorial note before drawing a conclusion.
- Before sharing it as Einstein's exact words, display the attribution caveat and follow the evidence link recorded on the page.