Einstein and the atom

The last part of the book was the most interesting. It displayed a lovely and sad photo of Einstein at the beginning of one of the last chapters. The sadness in his eyes caught my attention and then when I finished the book, I went back to the photo and stared at it for a long time. It actually made me cry once I understood. 
"Do you think they will ever forgive me?" he had said to one of his dear friends. Einstein did not make the bomb, he was excluded from that process because he was feared to be a spy, nor did he want to participate. He did, however, write to the president and alert him to the potential of it, and that letter initiated the whole Manhattan Project. E=mc2 was the revelation that led to development of the ideas which then led to the bomb, but those formulations were developed by others. Einstein felt responsible though and never forgave himself for unleashing this knowledge on humanity. The portrait of him conveys this deep sadness, such a kind and playful man and the weight of the world. I felt and still feel an overwhelming sense of compassion and sadness when I look at this photo. He became famous and so celebrated for uncovering this incredible truth about the universe, and yet, it became this terrible burden on his conscience.