“The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of evil people; but because of people who do nothing about it.” -Albert Einstein. Einstein believed wholeheartedly in the value of human life. His life and work demonstrated his commitment to making the world a better place. Albert Einstein was a hero to all in the twentieth century and beyond. Working to gain better rights for minorities, developing theories that changed the scientific community, and humanitarian work to save lives and homes after the use of the atomic bomb helped solidify his role as a hero. Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Württemberg, Germany (1). He grew up in a Jewish home in Germany together with his younger sister (2). Although proclaimed a genius, Einstein was a mediocre student due to a lack of challenging work. At the age of 12 he became devout in his beliefs, prompting him to compose many religious songs (4). After he began delving into the sciences, he discovered ideas that contradicted his personal beliefs (4). His discoveries led him to become obsessed with the science around him (4). Years passed and Albert renounced his German citizenship to become a Swiss citizen, allowing him to resume the studies he had abandoned at the age of 16 (7). He became a student at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology studying Polytechnic (7). Einstein graduated in 1900 and began looking for work (8). With the help of a friend he found work in Berlin as a patent clerk at the Swiss patent office, a job for which he is well known (11). The steady income provided by his position allowed him to marry his first wife Mileva Maric on January 6, 1903, and paved the way for his two sons, Hans...... middle of paper ......and come but few have made such a difference in our world. Works Cited “Albert Einstein”. British School. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2014. Web. April 30, 2014. "Albert Einstein." 2014. The Biography.com website. May 05, 2014.Belanger, Craig. "Albert Einstein: The Path to Relativity." Albert Einstein (2006): 1-3. Historical reference center. Network. April 29, 2014. Fox, Karen C. “The Jew and the Genius: The World's Greatest Scientist Possessed Perhaps the World's Least Predictable Mind. Throughout his life, Albert Einstein consistently demonstrated the maddening ability to challenge beliefs, embrace contradictions, and see the mistakes of everyone else. Science and Spirit 16.6 (2005): 30+. Academic OneFile. Network. April 30, 2014.Hayden, Thomas. “The Einstein within”. US News & World Report 2002: 60+. SIRS Problem Researcher. Network. April 30. 2014.