Einstein's Three Rules of Work

“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”- Albert Einstein

These rules, which I haven't thought about in a long time, came to mind during our last rehearsal. The first rule reminds me that work is messy and requires a kind of mindfulness, clarity, and an ability to keep your eyes on the outcome you are seeking; the second points to the importance of community and collaboration; and the third, though it is a frequently repeated cliche, is a fundamental truth. In acting (I'm certain this is true of other forms of creating as well), often the very problem you have - e.g., difficulty saying a certain line or a problem reconciling contradictions in a character - is the solution to that problem. All of these rules, since they seems to apply most especially to creative work, I thought were worth mentioning here.