“Philosophy is like a mother who gave birth to and endowed all the other sciences. Therefore, one should not scorn her in her nakedness and poverty, but should hope, rather, that part of her Don Quixote ideal will live on in her children so that they do not sink into philistinism.”
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Probable attribution
A source trail connects this quotation to Albert Einstein and (28 September 1932), p. 106, but the exact English wording has not been confirmed in a primary text. The attribution is therefore probable rather than definitive.
Likely origin: (28 September 1932), p. 106
Review the attribution sourceAbout this quote
This page records the wording "Philosophy is like a mother who gave birth to and…," which centers on philosophy, mother, birth. A concrete trail points toward Einstein, but the exact English form remains unconfirmed; the page therefore labels it as attributed to him while preserving its science and creativity context.
When to use it
- Use "Philosophy is like a mother who gave birth to and…" in a science discussion, then ask which concrete claim the wording makes.
- Compare its treatment of philosophy with mother 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.