When Albert Einstein was visiting Tokyo's Imperial Hotel in 1922, he gave a bellboy a handwritten note instead of a tip.

Scribbled in German on a piece of hotel stationery, Einstein wrote his theory of happiness:

"A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness."

The note brought $1.56 million at an auction in Israel on Tuesday with a winning bid from an anonymous European buyer.

Estimated to bring $5,000 to $8,000, the note was also consigned with another sheet reading: "Where there's a will there's a way." That note brought $240,000.

The seller was reportedly a grandson of the Japanese bellboy, who lives in Germany.