My general rule in any discussion is that whenever in doubt, name-drop a dead German dude. But I try to subtle-it-up a little: instead of Einstein, I use Heisenberg. Or Leibniz. Or my current personal favorite: Hermann von Helmholtz -- physicist, polymath, and rocker of the restrained walrus-stache.

(BTW, they really need to be famous dead German dudes. I've tried name-dropping Helmut Krieger, my deceased 2nd-year junior high German teacher, and gotten nada -- nichts.)