Famous scientist Mei Wen

Author: Wang Li
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Einstein need not ponder deeply; it is clear from daily life that humans exist for others—first for those whose joy and health are intertwined with our own happiness; then for many whom we do not know, whose destinies are closely linked with ours through the bonds of sympathy. I remind myself every day, hundreds of times: my spiritual and material life depend on the labor of others (both the living and the dead), and I must strive to repay in kind what I have received and continue to receive.
My worldview—how strange the fate of those who must one day die! Each of us makes only a fleeting stay in this world; yet the purpose of our existence remains unknown, though sometimes we delude ourselves into thinking we sense it. But no deep thought is needed; daily life makes it clear that humans exist for others—first for those whose joy and health are intertwined with our own happiness; then for many whom we do not know, whose destinies are closely linked with ours through the bonds of sympathy. I remind myself every day, hundreds of times: my spiritual and material life depend on the labor of others (both the living and the dead), and I must strive to repay in kind what I have received and continue to receive.
I strongly yearn for a simple life and often find it unbearable to realize how much labor of my fellow humans I take for granted. I believe that class distinctions are unreasonable, ultimately based on force. I also believe that a simple and unadorned life is beneficial to everyone, both physically and mentally. I completely disbelieve in the freedom of humanity in a philosophical sense. Every person’s actions are not only compelled by external forces but also shaped by internal necessity. Schopenhauer said, "Humans can do what they want to do, but not what they want to want." This sentence has been a true revelation to me since my youth; it has always brought comfort to me and others when faced with difficulties in life and has been a source of tolerance. This understanding can generously lighten the sense of responsibility that easily leads to discouragement, prevent us from taking ourselves and others too seriously, and foster a life view that gives humor its rightful place.
To seek the meaning or purpose of one’s own or all living beings’ existence from an objective standpoint always seems foolish and laughable to me. Yet each person has a certain ideal, which determines the direction of their efforts and judgments. In this sense, I never regard comfort and pleasure as the ultimate goal of life—I call this ethical foundation the ideal of a pigsty. What illuminates my path and continually gives me the courage to face life with joy is goodness, beauty, and truth. Without the warm affection of fellow travelers and without being completely absorbed in the objective world—that which in the realms of art and science can never be fully attained—life would seem empty to me. The vulgar goals that people strive for—wealth