Best Atomic Weapons Quotes | Short & Famous Sayings

“Oppenheimer, haunted by his leading role in the first use of atomic weapons, understood only one aspect of prudence. His longing not to do evil himself blinded him to the need to ward off the evil of others. This painfully knotted man hoped with one swipe of his moral sword to rid himself of the impossible tangle and to be clear and simple for once in his life. But being Oppenheimer could never be as easy as that. For Oppenheimer embodied two of the highest human types, the theoretical man described by Aristotle as god-like for living in the mind, among changeless truths, and the paragon of Machiavellian virtue, god-like in commanding the power of life and death over other men. No theoretical man before Oppenheimer had known such lordly power. In certain high moments he approached that Aristotelian theoretical purity which lives for the joys of knowing the world, whatever it might prove to be; in another light he thrilled at that Machiavellian power and its attendant renown; in contrary moods he reviled himself for the suffering he brought into the world, and ached to renounce his distinction and to be merely another man among men. Perhaps no theoretical man can be equal to such a burden: to feel knowledge as power when one’s mind reshapes the world irrevocably, to see the light of truth as the agent of some dark majesty, is not grace but ordeal. Oppenheimer’s agony tore him open from top to bottom.”

Evil Power Burden Complicated Agony Prudence Moral Dilemma Atomic Weapons Oppenheimer World Changing Aristotelian Theoretical Purity Machiavellian Virtue

Author:Algis Valiunas

“We know from the destructive weapons of the atomic age that either we permanently end war or it will most certainly permanently end us.”

War Weapons Destruction Annihilation Atomic Bomb Atomic War Atomic Weapons Atomic Age

Book:Reveille for Radicals

Source: Reveille for Radicals

“The latest element to turn up is called plutonium--which is Disney with a touch of mineral water. The word uranium had a mighty sound, a solemn sound, an awful sound. Plutonium is a belly laugh. Plutonium, incidentally, is not known in the stars; the stars are too high-minded. Plutonium is a mouthwash used by Mandrake. Plutonium is just something belonging to the comical race of people who started their first atomic fire under a football stadium.”

Humor Comedy Elements Atomic Energy Plutonium Atomic Weapons Atomic Power

Book:The Wild Flag: Editorials from the New Yorker on Federal World Government and Other Matters

Source: The Wild Flag: Editorials from the New Yorker on Federal World Government and Other Matters

“People are shopping these days. The stores are crowded. Buyers are intent but not gay. The news of the atomic bomb came as a terrible shock to everybody, and the easiest way to take your mind off it is to buy things.”

Stores Buying Shopping Nuclear Weapons Consumerism Atomic Bomb Atomic Weapons Nuvlear Bomb

Book:The Wild Flag: Editorials from the New Yorker on Federal World Government and Other Matters

Source: The Wild Flag: Editorials from the New Yorker on Federal World Government and Other Matters

“The only condition more appalling, less practical, than world government is the lack of it in this atomic age. Most of the scientists who produced the bomb admit that. Nationalism and the split atom cannot coexist in the planet.”

Government Nationalism Nuclear Weapons World Government Atomic Weapons Atomic Age Nuclear Age

Book:The Wild Flag: Editorials from the New Yorker on Federal World Government and Other Matters

Source: The Wild Flag: Editorials from the New Yorker on Federal World Government and Other Matters

“We had been frightened of atomic weapons since 1945. In those days I became convinced - and remain convinced now - that, after Hitler, Truman was the greatest murderer in the world.”

World Weapons Convinced Frightened Murderer Truman Atomic Weapons

Author:Martin Niemoller

“Quite often ... these little guys, who might be making atomic weapons or who might be guilty of some human rights violation ... are looking for someone to listen to their problems and help them communicate.”

Humans Littles Helping Problem Might Guy Rights Weapons Human Rights Communicate Guilty Violation Atomic Weapons

Author:Jimmy Carter

“It is my opinion that the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender... In being the first to use it, we had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages.”

“But so far, you know who's been violating the nuclear nonproliferation pact day and night? Those who signed it. Iran, Iraq, Libya and Iran violates it while calling for Israel's destruction and racing to develop atomic weapons to that end.”

Knows Ends Night Calling Weapons Destruction Iraq Israel Nuclear Iran Racing Day And Night Libya Pact Atomic Weapons

Author:Benjamin Netanyahu

“I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.”

“Access to the Vedas is the greatest privilege this century may claim over all previous centuries.”

May Century Claims Privilege Access Hinduism Atomic Bomb Nuclear Bomb Atom Bomb Vedas Atomic Weapons

Author:J. Robert Oppenheimer

“Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war that we know about peace, more about killing that we know about living.”

“We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the sermon on the mount.”

History Mystery Nuclear Atoms Nuclear Weapons Rejected Sermons Nuclear War Sermon On The Mount Atomic Weapons

Author:Omar N. Bradley

“The release of atomic power has changed everything except our way of thinking ... the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker. (1945)”

“Every inhabitant of this planet must contemplate the day when this planet may no longer be habitable .. The weapons of war must be abolished before they abolish us.”

May War Planets Weapons Nuclear Contemplating Nuclear Weapons Abolish Disarmament Nuclear War Armament Nuclear Disarmament Nuclear Proliferation Nukes Miscalculations Atomic Weapons

Author:John F. Kennedy

“The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.”

World Politics Society Achievement Conscience Anger Nuclear Giants Ethical Infant Brilliance International Relations Horror Of War Atomic War Politics And War Atomic Weapons

Author:Omar N. Bradley

“If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker.”

Ifs Should Science Known Knowledge Should Have Nuclear Physics Bombs Nuclear Weapons Physicist Atomic Bomb Nuclear Bomb Scientific Knowledge Nuclear Proliferation Nuclear Energy Atomic War Atomic Weapons

Author:Albert Einstein

“So far as I can see the atomic bomb has deadened the finest feeling that has sustained mankind for ages.”

Men I Can Feelings Age Science Death Mankind Nuclear Bombs Nuclear Weapons Finest Atomic Bomb Hiroshima Nuclear Bomb Atom Bomb Nukes Atomic Weapons

Book:Gandhi on Non-violence

Source: Gandhi on Non-violence

“Wars cannot be won by destroying women and children”

Children War Destroying Bombing Atomic Bomb Hiroshima Atom Bomb Hiroshima And Nagasaki Atomic War Atomic Weapons Dropping Bombs

Author:William D. Leahy

“The mere existence of atomic weapons implies the possibility of their use.”

Use Existence Possibility Weapons Mere Atomic Weapons

Author:Georgy Zhukov

“Despite the vision and farseeing wisdom of our wartime heads of state, the physicists have felt the peculiarly intimate responsibility for suggesting, for supporting, and in the end, in large measure, for achieving the realization of atomic weapons. Nor can we forget that these weapons as they were in fact used dramatized so mercilessly the inhumanity and evil of modern war. In some sort of crude sense which no vulgarity, no humor, no overstatement can quite extinguish, the physicists have known sin; and this is a knowledge which they cannot lose.”

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

Source: Einstein's 1912 manuscript on the special theory of relativity

“A dark and terrible side of this sense of community of interests is the fear of a horrible common destiny which in these days of atomic weapons darkens men's minds all around the globe.”

Men Mind Sides Interest Community Dark Common Destiny Terrible Weapons Horrible These Days Globes Atomic Weapons

Book:Beyond Nationalism: The Social Thought of Emily Greene Balch

Source: Beyond Nationalism: The Social Thought of Emily Greene Balch

“The weapons of war must be abolished before they abolish us.”

War Weapons Nuclear Nuclear Weapons Abolish Disarmament Nuclear War Armament Arms Race Nuclear Disarmament Nuclear Proliferation Nukes Nuclear Arms Race Miscalculations Atomic Weapons

Author:John F. Kennedy

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Atomic Weapons Quotes