It takes People with Brains and Willpower to change the Universe

Last night I discovered two interesting women in history who changed the course of the Universe despite being born in a time where women were not considered equals. Humanity being what it is, if you were not born beautiful, the best chance to have a comfortable lifestyle is to develop the brain. In modern times humor can also get you far. According to what is written, Emilie was not born beautiful, so the people around her tried to develop her body and intellect.

"Her father was Louis Nicolas le Tonnelier de Breteuil, the Principal Secretary and Introducer of Ambassadors to Louis XIV, whose position placed him at the center of social activity in the court, and thus gave the family great status. Among their acquaintances was Fontenelle, the perpetual secretary of the French Académie des Sciences. Her mother, Gabrielle Anne de Froulay, was brought up in a convent.

Émilie de Breteuil was a rather awkward child who showed no signs of growing up to be beautiful, so she was given lessons in fencing, riding, and gymnastics in an attempt to improve her coordination. She was remarkably well educated for the time, and by the age of twelve she was fluent in Latin, Italian, Greek and German; she was later to publish translations into French of Greek and Latin plays and philosophy. She received education in mathematics, literature and science. She also liked to dance, was a passable performer on the harpsichord, sang opera, and was an amateur actress. She was at times a high-stakes gambler, using her mathematical skills to lay out strategy. She lost 84,000 francs (the equivalent of a million dollars today)—some of it borrowed—in one evening at the table at Fontainebleau, probably to card cheats."

She was an extraordinary woman in her day and her efforts to pursue enlightenment with a passion despite the pressures of the World is extremely admirable. Thanks to her pursuits, Einstein was able to make the connection to E=MC squared.

Einstein and Lise Meitner also faced a world which didnt want to hear what they had to say because it either went against what was believed or because of their gender or ethnic origin. Where would the universe be if these people didnt have drive, ambition, and tenacity.

What if Einstein had a low self esteem and wanted to fit into society and did as he was told in order to be promoted rather than cling to his passion and ideals?