In 1930, a young Soviet physicist named Lev Davidovitch Landau was just 22 years old. Brilliant, restless, and unknown beyond academic circles, he was already destined for greatness.
That year, he attended lectures in Germany—the home of some of the greatest minds in physics. Among them was Albert Einstein, the man who had transformed humanity’s understanding of the universe.
According to accounts, when Einstein presented his work, Landau raised an objection. Calm but confident, he pointed out flaws in the derivation—something few would have dared to do.
Einstein listened carefully. He paused, considered deeply, and acknowledged that the young man was right.
Whether this exchange happened exactly as told or not, the story has endured because it teaches two timeless lessons:
The courage of youth to question authority.
The humility of true genius to accept truth from anyone.
Landau went on to become one of the greatest physicists of the 20th century. But in that moment, he was simply a young man brave enough to speak—and a master wise enough to listen.