Inspirational Quotes
... by famous people with learning disabilities or differences
Learning Disability - Einstein
In the
NOVA program "Einstein Revealed," [October 1996]
Einstein was described as a genius among geniuses.
He was the man whose theories and contributions revolutionized physics, replacing the system that had been created
by the other mental giant before him, Newton.
He developed the quantum theory of light, the proof that atoms exist, E=MC², the General Theory of Relativity,
and made significant contributions to the development of quantum theory.
Yet in his youth, he was described as mentally slow by some of his teachers.
Did you know that the gifted and talented often go unrecognized, until they make some major contribution?
Who Are the Gifted?
To everyone's surprise, it was discovered that Einstein had a smaller brain than average,
but in one area on the left side, a higher density of neurons and many more glial cells per neuron than average.
Glial cells increase synaptic connections, which would improve communication between neurons. I wonder if this might have
given him more to go through in his thought processes, which might have enabled him to see the different patterns that escaped others.
Einstein has been saddled with quite a few labels posthumously when they were trendy, including Dyslexia, ADD,
Autism Spectrum. But perhaps like many who get such labels, he was a different kind of thinker.
And maybe it takes a different kind of thinker to be so creative and progressive in his thinking
that he could totally revolutionize physics and our view of the cosmos.
"He told me that his teachers reported that . . . he was mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift forever in his foolish
dreams."
-- Hans Albert Einstein, on his father, Albert Einstein
"...never was much good at the 'easy' part of mathematics. To shine, he had to move on to the 'hard' part.'
In adult life his mathematical intuition was recognised as extraordinary and he could handle deftly the most difficult of
tensor calculus, but it appears that arithmetic calculation continued to be an area of comparative weakness"
-- Einstein's sister
Is there any way to increase glial cells and synaptic connections? Absolutely.
The brain is changeable and moulded by experience.
What scientists recommend is continuous learning and a stimulating environment, with a positive attitude.
Science Demonstrates Ways to Improve Your Thinking.
Never stop believing in yourself, and learning.
10 - Churchill »
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