Imagination > Knowledge

Why should the phrase “imagination is more important than knowledge” apply only to Einstein?

Albert Einstein is often quoted as saying: “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”

Albert Einstein put this maxim to good use. He figured out the special theory of relativity using only his imagination. The main piece of knowledge he used was the fact that the speed of light is absolutely the same for everyone—no matter if you’re sitting still or moving. This was proven to be the case very early in the 20^th century. The rest of his theory was pure imagination.

Here’s where the imagination part comes in. Imagine how objects behave when the speed of light is the same for everyone-- it helps to imagine a couple of non-ordinary cases. First, imagine you shine a light in front of you, and you’re able to speed up. If the speed of light is the same for you whether you’re moving or sitting still, what would happen? Imagine you’re chasing the light beam at 185,000 miles per second. What happens to the light beam? It recedes from you at the same pace it always has—186,000 miles a second. Even though you’re travelling at 185,000 miles per second, the light beam is racing away from you at 186,000 miles per second. Shouldn’t it be receding from you at only 1,000 miles per second? Hmmmmm.

Now imagine that you’re moving towards a light bulb. Imagine you’re moving towards the light at 185,000 miles per hour. Remember, the speed of light is the same for everyone at rest or in motion. You’re moving towards the light, but to you the light is arriving at your eyeballs at the same time whether you’re still or moving. The light comes to you at 186,000 miles per second even though you’re moving towards it. Shouldn’t the light be coming to you at 371,000 miles per second (186,000 miles per second + 185,000 miles per second)? After all, you’re moving towards the light-- and that 185,000 miles per second should be accounted for somewhere! But remember- the speed of light is constant—that 185,000 miles per second needs to go somewhere!

The only way for the speed of light to remain constant is for space and time to change.

Einstein figured out the special theory of relativity using only an established fact with some imagination mixed in! The knowledge by itself wasn’t enough.

How can this apply in your own life? You probably won't be travelling at near light-speed anytime soon. However, ask yourself this. What is an idea? (It’s imagination). What’s the difference between an idea in your head and a rough draft? What’s the difference between a rough draft and a Pulitzer prize-winning piece of writing? What’s the critical ingredient? The critical ingredient is being able to see what’s NOT there via imagination.