“The supreme goal of all theory is to make the irreducible basic elements as simple and as few as possible without having to surrender the adequate representation of a simple datum of experience.”
Share this quote
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 "The supreme goal of all theory is to make the…," circulates under Einstein's name and focuses on supreme, theory, irreducible. No strong source for the exact text was found, so the page presents it as commonly attributed while still explaining its practical connection to science and motivation.
When to use it
- Use "The supreme goal of all theory is to make the…" in a science discussion, then ask which concrete claim the wording makes.
- Compare its treatment of supreme with theory 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.