They Said Einstein Was ‘Useless’... Until THIS Happened

Albert Einstein—one of the greatest scientific minds in history—once faced a time when no one would hire him. For nine long years, he wandered from place to place, applying for jobs and facing rejections. In fact, among all his classmates, Einstein was the only one left unemployed.

Who could have imagined that the same boy, considered a slow learner in school, would one day receive an offer to become the President of Israel?

Why did such a brilliant man struggle to find a job? And what did Einstein say when offered one of the most powerful political positions in the world?

Einstein's Struggles as a Child

Born in 1879 in Ulm, Germany, Einstein had an unusual childhood. He was a slow learner, started speaking late, and struggled in traditional schooling. Teachers often labeled him as average or below average, failing to understand that Einstein didn't memorize information—he questioned it.

His curiosity often slowed him down in class, where rote learning was rewarded over deep understanding. This trait—seen as a weakness—would later become his greatest strength.

Einstein disliked the rigid German education system and eventually left school. He and his family moved to Switzerland, hoping the liberal education system there would suit him better.

Failing the Entrance Exam, Succeeding in the Unexpected

Einstein aimed to study physics and mathematics at Zurich Polytechnic College. While he easily passed the math and physics sections of the entrance exam, he failed other subjects like literature, politics, and geology—subjects requiring rote memorization.

A professor, impressed by Einstein's math and physics answers, asked who had taught him. Einstein replied, “I taught myself.” However, he was told he needed to repeat a year of school and improve in other subjects before reapplying.

A Lonely Genius with No Recommendations

In 1900, Einstein graduated. But his independent nature meant he never tried to impress professors or build political connections. As a result, none of his professors recommended him for jobs, a crucial requirement in the scientific community at the time.

While his classmates, backed by professors, landed prestigious positions, Einstein faced rejection after rejection. He applied at universities, research institutes, and schools—everywhere, the response was the same:

"We regret to inform you, we cannot hire you."

Einstein felt invisible, writing in his diary:

“It feels like the world has no need for me. Every door seems shut.”

In a letter to his family, he confessed:

“I apply everywhere, but no one responds. It feels like nothing in my life is going right.”

To his girlfriend, Mileva Marić, he wrote:

“I feel like a useless person. I live only for physics, but the world only listens to those who fit into its system.”

Rejected, Broke, and Teaching for Survival

Financial stress added pressure to his relationship with Mileva, who was expecting Einstein to secure a job. Unable to find academic work, Einstein became a private tutor, teaching school students math and physics just to earn basic income.

Eventually, a friend suggested he apply for a low-level government job at the Swiss Patent Office. Though it was unrelated to physics, Einstein applied—and was surprisingly hired in 1902.

His job: reviewing invention applications to determine if they were truly innovative. Boring as it was, the 9-to-5 job gave Einstein evenings and weekends to continue his scientific research.

The Year That Changed Everything: 1905

In 1905, while still working at the patent office, Einstein published four revolutionary papers in one year:

• Special Theory of Relativity
• Photoelectric Effect
• Brownian Motion
• Mass-Energy Equivalence (E = mc²)

These papers shook the scientific world. The man once rejected by universities became a rising star in European science circles. The photoelectric paper laid the foundation of quantum physics, and special relativity redefined our understanding of space and time.

In 1909, nine years after graduation, Einstein finally received his first academic offer: Assistant Professor at the University of Zurich.

The Unexpected Offer to Become President

Einstein became not just a scientific legend but also a respected Jewish figure globally. In 1932, he fled Germany to escape Hitler’s rise to power and moved to Princeton, New Jersey, where he became a professor of theoretical physics.

After the creation of Israel in 1948, a critical leadership vacuum emerged when the first President Chaim Weizmann died in 1952. The Israeli government wanted a figure who was respected both globally and within the Jewish community.

Their choice: Albert Einstein.

On November 17, 1952, Einstein received a letter from Abba Eban, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, conveying an offer from Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion: Would Einstein accept the presidency of Israel?

He was told he’d be granted citizenship, would have full freedom to continue his scientific work, and that Israel’s parliament was prepared to vote him in.

Einstein’s Emotional But Firm Refusal

Einstein was deeply emotional upon receiving the offer. But his reply was humble, honest, and philosophical:

“I am deeply moved by the offer, but I feel both sad and ashamed that I cannot accept it. I have never dealt with people objectively in my life. I lack the natural aptitude and experience to deal with official responsibilities.”

He later told a guest at his home that the offer made him deeply uncomfortable, and explained to an Israeli newspaper:

“I don’t want to be in a position where I must follow government decisions that may go against my conscience.”

Einstein believed in freedom of thought, and he never wanted to compromise that for power or politics.

Why He Was Never a Passionate Zionist

While Einstein was sympathetic to Israel, he was not a passionate Zionist. In fact, in 1946—two years before Israel was established—he had told an international community:

“The idea of a state does not appeal to me.”

So, when he refused the presidency, Prime Minister Ben-Gurion privately admitted to his assistant:

“If Einstein had accepted, it would have created a lot of problems for us.”

Eventually, on December 16, 1952, Yitzhak Ben-Zvi was elected as Israel’s second President.

Einstein’s True Legacy

Einstein never pursued wealth, fame, or power. He pursued truth. From a struggling job-seeker to the man offered the presidency of a nation, Einstein’s journey is a testament to how genius, integrity, and passion for learning can defy all odds.

And perhaps, that is what makes him not just a great scientist—but a truly great human being.