We all grow up thinking of Albert Einstein as the smartest man in the world. As we get older — and this is particularly true for those of us that choose to pursue educations in the humanities and the social sciences — Einstein becomes just another one of those brilliant physicists in our textbooks.

It was only a few years ago that I discovered the real genius of Albert Einstein: not his contributions to science, but his contributions to the human conscience. Einstein was a Humanist that espoused Ethical Culture and embraced a type of agnosticism that saw God manifest in the “lawful harmony of the world.” Since discovering this side of Einstein, I have become enraptured by his every word on human morality, on love, and on the relationships between people and the world around them. I may not agree with his politics, but I am enthralled by his spirit.

Today, I want to thank Albert Einstein for being inspirational.

I strongly encourage you all to check out the full compendium of Albert Einstein’s not-directly-scientific writings: his articles, letters, and scribbles on pieces of paper that have been collected and curated. They have been, and continue to be, and inspiration to me.

Every Sunday for the next little while, I’ll be writing one or two paragraphs about people that inspire me as a kind of thank you for making me want to do and be better. Who inspires you?