He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.

Summary

This quote, attributed to Albert Einstein, expresses Einstein's disdain for unquestioning conformity and blind obedience to authority. He asserts that individuals who happily conform to societal norms and suppress critical thinking are deserving of his contempt. By proclaiming that such individuals would be sufficiently governed by their spinal cord (which controls basic bodily functions) rather than their larger intellect, Einstein implies that their brains are wasted on them. Essentially, he criticizes those who lack independent thought and choose to follow the crowd instead of exercising their intellectual capabilities.

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