What Did Einstein Say About Veganism? š§āš¬ The Mind of a Genius on a Meatless Diet
- Emanuele Bortolotto
- Jul 21
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 30
An exploration of Albert Einstein's personal letters, quotes, and evolving views on vegetarianism, animal rights, and the future of human diet.
Itās just before five in the afternoon on a Monday here in Helsinki. The day is beginning to soften, the intense summer light giving way to a more thoughtful, reflective glow. Itās the kind of light that encourages big thoughts. And when we think big, we often look to the minds that thought biggest. We look to figures like Albert Einstein. His very name is synonymous with genius. We see the wild hair, the kind eyes, the chalkboard filled with equations that ripped up the rulebook of the universe. š¤Æ We revere his insights on space, time, and gravity.
But we are also deeply curious about the inner lives of such people. We want to know not just how they thought, but how they lived. What did they believe was the right way to move through the world? This leads us to a surprisingly common and fascinating question, one that bridges the cosmic with the culinary: What did Einstein say about veganismĀ and its sister movement, vegetarianism?
The answer, found in his letters and diaries, reveals a man whose profound sense of interconnectedness with the universe extended all the way to his dinner plate. Itās a story of evolving beliefs, deep empathy, and a vision for humanity that was, in many ways, just as forward thinking as his physics.
Beyond the Universe: Peeking into Einstein's Kitchen š
To understand Einsteinās views on diet, we have to understand his broader philosophy. This was not a man who lived in disconnected silos. His scientific pursuits were fueled by a deep sense of awe and wonder, which he called a "cosmic religious feeling." He believed in a harmonious order underlying the apparent chaos of the universe, and he felt a profound reverence for all of existence. Itās no surprise, then, that he was deeply troubled by the suffering of animals and the violence inherent in a carnivorous diet.
I was discussing this with my friendĀ the other day, and he made a great point. For a mind like Einsteinās, a contradiction between oneās sense of cosmic harmony and the daily act of eating animals would have been a source of genuine intellectual and spiritual friction. This wasn't a casual preference; it was a philosophical problem to be solved. And for decades, Einstein wrestled with it, expressing his sympathies for a meatless diet long before he fully adopted it himself.
The Famous Quotes: What Einstein Actually Wrote and Said š
The best way to understand his views is to read his own words. They are not the words of a fiery activist, but of a thoughtful, gentle soul articulating a deep conviction. Letās analyze some of his most famous statements.
The Quote:
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."
Source:Ā This is one of his most widely cited quotes. While the exact original source is debated, it is widely attributed to him and aligns perfectly with his other documented statements.
Analysis:Ā This is an incredibly powerful and prescient statement. He identifies two distinct benefits. First, human health. He recognized that a meat-based diet was not optimal for our physical well being. Second, and more amazingly, he links a vegetarian diet to the survival of life on Earth. š In an era long before climate change and industrial agriculture became mainstream concerns, he foresaw that our dietary choices had planetary consequences. He wasn't just talking about a personal choice; he was talking about an evolutionary step for the entire species.
The Quote:
"Although I have been prevented by outward circumstances from observing a strictly vegetarian diet, I have long been an adherent to the cause in principle. Besides agreeing with the aims of vegetarianism for aesthetic and moral reasons, it is my view that a vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind."
Source:Ā A letter to Hermann Huth, editor of the German vegetarian magazine Vegetarische Warte, dated December 27, 1930.
Analysis:Ā This quote is fantastic because itās so honest. He admits he isnāt a strict vegetarian at this point, citing "outward circumstances." But he makes it clear he is an "adherent to the cause in principle." And look at his reasons! He gives three:
Aesthetic:Ā The idea of a less bloody, more beautiful way of eating. āØ
Moral:Ā This is the ethical argumentāthat it's wrong to cause suffering to animals. š®ā¤ļø
Temperament:Ā This is the most fascinating part. He believed that abstaining from meat would have a "purely physical effect on the human temperament," making us more peaceful and gentle as a species. He saw it as a path to a less violent world.
The Quote:
"I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It always seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivore."
Source:Ā A letter to his friend Hans Muehsam, dated March 30, 1954.
Analysis:Ā This is a late-in-life statement, just about a year before his death. It confirms that he had, by this point, adopted a vegetarian diet. He reports feeling "quite well," showing he was pleased with the personal health results. The second sentence is a beautiful summary of his philosophical stance. The idea that "man was not born to be a carnivore" speaks to his belief that our natural state, our higher selves, should aspire to a more compassionate way of living. It frames meat eating as a deviation from a more noble, inherent nature.
These are just a few examples. In his writings, a clear and consistent theme emerges: a deep, principled belief in the moral and practical superiority of a vegetarian diet.
A Vegetarian in Practice? Einstein's Personal Dietary Journey š¤
One of the biggest misconceptions is that Einstein was a lifelong vegetarian. This isn't true, and itās important to be accurate. For most of his life, his vegetarianism was, as he put it, "in principle." He was a man who loved his sausages and was known to enjoy a good steak.
His definitive shift to a meatless diet came very late in his life. In 1953, he was suffering from digestive problems, including stomach ulcers and gallbladder issues. On his doctor's advice to eat a fat-free diet, he finally made the switch he had been contemplating for decades. He wrote in his diary that he was on a "completely meatless diet (also no fish). Also no fats, but I feel very well with it."
So, while his philosophical commitment was lifelong, his practical adherence was for about the last year to eighteen months of his life. Does this diminish his stance? Not at all. In fact, it might make it more relatable. It shows a man grappling with a complex issue, knowing what he believed was right, and finally aligning his actions with his principles when his health provided the final push.
Einstein's Evolving Views on Diet: A Timeline š
Questions from the Internet: "So, was Einstein a vegetarian for his whole life?"Ā š¤That's a great question with a clear answer: No, he was not.Ā This is probably the most common myth about his diet. For most of his 76 years, he ate meat, though his letters show he often felt a "guilty conscience" about it. He fully committed to a vegetarian diet only in the last year or two of his life, prompted by both his long-standing ethical beliefs and a doctor's recommendation for his health.
Was Einstein a Vegan? The Important Distinction š§
This is where we must be precise. The word "vegan" was coined by Donald Watson in 1944 when he helped found The Vegan Society in the UK. The concept of avoiding allĀ animal products, including dairy and eggs, was still very niche during Einstein's lifetime.
All of Einstein's known writings refer to "vegetarianism." When he describes his late-life diet, he specifies "without meat, without fish." He does not mention abstaining from dairy or eggs. Given the norms of the time, it is almost certain that his diet was vegetarian, not vegan. He likely did not use the word "vegan" and there is no evidence he adhered to a strictly vegan diet.
However, does this mean his philosophy doesn't align with veganism? Not at all. His core ethical argumentāthe moral concern for animals and the desire for a more peaceful, harmonious way of livingāis the very foundation of ethical veganism. His statements about the health and environmental benefits are also central tenets of the modern vegan movement.
So, while we can't accurately call Einstein a vegan, we can say with confidence that he was a powerful philosophical ally to the cause. He articulated the "why" of veganism beautifully, even if his personal practice only went as far as vegetarianism.
The "Why" Behind the Wisdom: The Philosophical Roots of Einstein's Stance š¤
Einstein's vegetarianism wasn't a random quirk. It was a direct, logical extension of his entire worldview.
Reverence for Life:Ā Einstein possessed a deep sense of empathy and a reverence for all forms of life. He was a committed pacifist who saw violence as a base, primitive instinct. For him, the violence required to kill and eat an animal was a contradiction to a peaceful, elevated existence. ā¤ļøāš©¹
Aesthetic Sensibility:Ā He found the entire business of slaughter and butchery to be coarse and unappealing. He believed humanity could and should evolve to a more refined, "aesthetic" way of nourishing itself. šØ
Cosmic Interconnectedness:Ā His work in physics gave him a unique perspective on the universe. He saw a unified, interconnected reality. To harm another living creature was, in a small way, to harm a part of that beautiful, interconnected whole. This feeling of unity is something many people strive for, whether through science, art, or quiet contemplation during a Helsinki sunset. š
His dietary views were not an add-on; they were woven into the very fabric of his moral and philosophical identity.
Questions from the Internet: "Why do people care so much about what Einstein ate?"Ā š¤·āāļøItās a fascinating question. On one level, itās just human curiosity about the daily lives of famous people. But on a deeper level, it's about seeking validation and wisdom. We are captivated by the minds of geniuses. There's a hope that their choices hold a secret code to a better life. When a person who fundamentally reshaped our concept of reality says, "I think it is wrong to eat animals," that statement carries an immense intellectual and moral weight. It provides a powerful counter-argument to the idea that vegetarianism or veganism is a fringe or anti-intellectual position. It makes the choice feel not just compassionate, but profoundly rational. š§
The Genius's Legacy: How Einstein's Words Resonate Today š
Albert Einstein did not lead protests or found an animal rights organization. He was a quiet, principled supporter of a cause he believed in. Yet, his legacy in the vegetarian and vegan movements is enormous.
His words provide a powerful intellectual anchor for a movement often driven by emotion. He articulated a vision where a plant-based diet is not about restriction or sacrifice, but about evolution. It's about humanity becoming healthier, more peaceful, and more in tune with the planet we all share. He saw it as a necessary step for our survival and the betterment of our character.
And though he only fully lived by his own dietary principles for a short time at the end of his life, the clarity and conviction with which he wrote about them ensures that his thoughts on the matter will continue to inspire people for generations to come. He challenged us to think bigger, not just about the cosmos, but about our own conscience. And that is the true mark of a genius. š
Sources:
Alice Calaprice, editor. The Ultimate Quotable Einstein. Princeton University Press, 2011.
The Einstein Archives Online. https://www.albert-einstein.org/
Walter Isaacson. Einstein: His Life and Universe. Simon & Schuster, 2007.
Vegetarian Society. "History of Vegetarianism - Albert Einstein." https://vegsoc.org/info-hub/history/history-of-vegetarianism-albert-einstein/
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