“You ask me if I keep a notebook to record my great ideas. I've only ever had one.”
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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 "You ask me if I keep a notebook to record…," circulates under Einstein's name and focuses on notebook, record, great. No strong source for the exact text was found, so the page presents it as commonly attributed while still explaining its practical connection to creativity and success.
When to use it
- Use "You ask me if I keep a notebook to record…" in a creativity discussion, then ask which concrete claim the wording makes.
- Compare its treatment of notebook with record 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.