Girls can be scientists too - Einstein's advice to a young girl

From Brain Pickings comes this delightful snippet from Albert Einstein.

Apparently before we could communicate with famous scientists and other people using Twitter, there used to be some communications media called "letters". Interesting concept...

Anyhoo, Einstein used to get letters from children around the world - and reply to them. There's even a whole book about them called Dear Professor Einstein.


He had several exchanged letter with a South African girl named Tyfanny in 1946. In one letter she writes:

I forgot to tell you, in my last letter, that I was a girl. I mean I am a girl. I have always regretted this a great deal, but by now I have become more or less resigned to the fact. Anyway, I hate dresses and dances and all the kind of rot girls usually like. I much prefer horses and riding. Long ago, before I wanted to become a scientist, I wanted to be a jockey and ride horses in races. But that was ages ago, now. I hope you will not think any the less of me for being a girl!

Einstein's reply:

I do not mind that you are a girl, but the main thing is that you yourself do not mind. There is no reason for it.

Sage - and timeless - advice for girls everywhere.