“One should not pursue goals that are easily achieved. One must develop an instinct for what one can just barely achieve through one’s greatest efforts.”
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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 "One should not pursue goals that are easily achieved. One…," circulates under Einstein's name and focuses on pursue, goals, easily. No strong source for the exact text was found, so the page presents it as commonly attributed while still explaining its practical connection to motivation and perseverance.
When to use it
- Use "One should not pursue goals that are easily achieved. One…" in a motivation discussion, then ask which concrete claim the wording makes.
- Compare its treatment of pursue with goals 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.