A human being is a part of the whole,
called by us "Universe",
a part limited in time and space.
He experiences himself,
his thoughts and feelings
as something separated from the rest—
a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind of prison for us,
restricting us to our personal desires
and to affection for a few persons nearest to us.
Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison
by widening our circle of compassion
to embrace all living creatures
and the whole of nature in its beauty.
Nobody is able to achieve this completely,
but the striving for such achievement
is in itself a part of the liberation
and a foundation for inner security.
Albert Einstein, Letter of 1950
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