“What is the meaning of human life, or, for that matter, of the life of any creature? To know the answer to this question means to be religious. You ask: Does it make any sense, then, to pose this question? I answer: The man who regards his fellow creatures as meaningless is not merely unhappy but hardly fit for life.”
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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 "What is the meaning of human life, or, for that…," circulates under Einstein's name and focuses on meaning, human, matter. 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 spirituality.
When to use it
- Use "What is the meaning of human life, or, for that…" in a science discussion, then ask which concrete claim the wording makes.
- Compare its treatment of meaning with human 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.