Rabbi Judah ben Bezalel Lowe, known as the Maharal of Prague was famous among Jews and non-Jews alike. He was a mystic who was revered for his holiness and Torah scholarship, as well as his proficiency in mathematics, astronomy, and other sciences. Eventually, word of his greatness reached the ears of Emperor Rudolph II.
The Emperor invited the Maharal to his castle on February 23, 1592. There they conversed for one and a half hours, and developed a mutual respect for each other.
Rabbi Judah Lowe made use of his excellent connections with the Emperor, often intervening on behalf of his community when it was threatened by anti-Semitic attacks or oppression.
When the telephone was first introduced, a wise man was asked, “What can we learn from this contraption?”
He answered, “That which is spoken here is heard there.”
So they asked, “And from the telegraph?”
He replied, “Every word costs.”
“And from the locomotive?”
“Hesitate for a moment and you could lose the whole journey.”