VOA慢速英语--Einstein’s Note on Happiness Sells for $1.3 Million

 

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In 1922, German-born scientist Albert Einstein was traveling to Tokyo when he found out he had earned the Nobel Prize in Physics.

While in Japan, Einstein stayed at Tokyo’s Imperial¹ Hotel. During his stay, a hotel worker came to Einstein’s room to make a delivery. Einstein found himself without any money to give the man as a tip for his services.

So, instead of money, the famous scientist handed the hotel worker a signed note with a sentence he wrote in German. It read: “A calm and humble² life will bring more happiness than the pursuit³ of success and the constant restlessness that comes with it.”

He gave him another note that read: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Both notes were written on the Imperial Hotel’s notepaper.

Einstein reportedly advised the man to keep the notes, saying they may one day be worth more than any tip he could give him.

The hotel worker must have listened to Einstein’s advice.

Ninety-five years later, the hotel worker’s nephew contacted Winner’s Auctions⁵ and Exhibitions, an auction⁴ company in Israel.

On Tuesday, the notes were put on auction in Jerusalem. The price for the happiness note started at $2,000. About 25 minutes later, it sold to the highest bidder⁶.

That person, who was not named, agreed to pay $1.3 million dollars.

The second signed Einstein note sold for over $200,000.

Einstein may be best known for his theory of relativity. In fact, the winners of this year’s Nobel Prize for Physics earned the award for measuring gravitational waves -- an important part of Einstein’s theory.

But now, his one-sentence theory of happiness is famous, as well.

And that's What's Trending Today...

I'm Ashley Thompson.

Words in This Story

tip - n. an extra amount of money given to someone who performs a service for you

humble - adj. not special, fancy, or expensive

advice - n. an opinion or suggestion about what someone should do

auction - n. a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most

bid - v. to offer to pay (a particular amount of money) for something that is being sold : to make a bid at an auction

1 imperial   

adj.帝王的，至尊的；n.特等品

参考例句：

• They made an objection to the imperial system with resolution.他们坚决反对帝制。
• The Prince Imperial passed away last night.皇太子昨晚去世了。

2 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

3 pursuit   

n.追赶，追求，职业，工作

参考例句：

• They set off at once along the lane in pursuit.他们立即出发沿着小巷追赶。
• Life,liberty,and the pursuit of happiness have been called the inalienable rights of man.生命、自由和追求幸福被称为人类不可剥夺的权利。

4 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

5 auctions   

n.拍卖，拍卖方式( auction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They picked up most of the furniture at auctions in country towns. 他们大部分的家具都是在乡村镇上的拍卖处买的。 来自辞典例句
• Our dealers didn't want these cars, so we had to dump them at auctions. 我们的承销商都不要这些车子，因此我们只好贱价拍卖。 来自辞典例句

6 bidder   

n.(拍卖时的)出价人，报价人，投标人

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder.电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。
• The bidder withdrew his bid after submission of his bid.投标者在投标之后撤销了投标书。