Article November 12, 1955 Issue

Signs of the Times

with contributions from Henry Geerlings

From the "Editor's Scrapbook" in the Milton Evening Standard Pennsylvania

We often make the mistake of thinking that something is most important simply because it is big, or complicated, or far away. ... In all fields something small may have the greatest significance.

A story about Dr. Einstein illustrates this. On the blackboard in his classroom were several mathematical problems—some extremely complicated, with scores of figures. At the close of the day the great teacher went to the board and wrote instructions to the janitor. A visitor was interested to note that on the most complicated problems he wrote the word "Erase," but above the simplest problem of all he wrote: "Do not erase." What was his simple statement of mathematical truth that Dr. Einstein wanted saved? It was just: two times two are four—a truth upon which all the complicated problems rested. ...

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