17 Joseph Rotblat Quotes for You to Enjoy

Joseph Rotblat

Polish Physicist

Born: Nov 4, 1908

Died: Aug 31, 2005

Countries Life Nuclear Science War World

Related authors: Albert Einstein J. Robert Oppenheimer Martin H. Fischer Michio Kaku Niels Bohr Richard P. Feynman Stephen Hawking Werner Heisenberg

At a time when science plays such a powerful role in the life of society, when the destiny of the whole of mankind may hinge on the results of scientific research, it is incumbent on all scientists to be fully conscious of that role, and conduct themselves accordingly. Joseph Rotblat

Life Time Science Research Society Incumbent Destiny Results Powerful Scientific Hinge Scientific Research Scientists Accordingly Conduct Role May Mankind Themselves Fully Whole Conscious Plays

The most terrifying moment in my life was October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. I did not know all the facts - we have learned only recently how close we were to war - but I knew enough to make me tremble. Joseph Rotblat

Life War Me My Life Enough Tremble Crisis All The Facts Only Facts Knew Missile Know Most Make Learned Cuban Cuban Missile Crisis Terrifying How October Were Close Did Moment Recently

But scientists on both sides of the iron curtain played a very significant role in maintaining the momentum of the nuclear arms race throughout the four decades of the Cold War. Joseph Rotblat

War Cold Cold War Sides Significant Both Both Sides Throughout Maintaining Arms Arms Race Scientists Very Iron Iron Curtain Role Decades Curtain Race Momentum Nuclear Nuclear Arms Four Played

I saw science as being in harmony with humanity. Joseph Rotblat

Science Humanity Harmony Saw Being

All nuclear weapon states should now recognize that this is so, and declare - in Treaty form - that they will never be the first to use nuclear weapons. This would open the way to the gradual, mutual reduction of nuclear arsenals, down to zero. Joseph Rotblat

Will First Down Way States Recognize Would Weapon Weapons Mutual Be The First Never Open Reduction Arsenal Gradual Form Declare Should Use Now Zero Nuclear Nuclear Weapon Nuclear Weapons Treaty

I have to bring to your notice a terrifying reality: with the development of nuclear weapons Man has acquired, for the first time in history, the technical means to destroy the whole of civilization in a single act. Joseph Rotblat

Time History Man Reality First Single Destroy Weapons Civilization Development Single Act Terrifying First Time Acquired Notice Means Act Your Whole Technical Nuclear Bring Nuclear Weapons

Indeed, the whole human species is endangered, by nuclear weapons or by other means of wholesale destruction which further advances in science are likely to produce. Joseph Rotblat

Science Destruction Other Indeed Further Weapons Advances Likely Endangered Human Which Produce Means Whole Wholesale Human Species Species Nuclear Nuclear Weapons

Long before the terrifying potential of the arms race was recognized, there was a widespread instinctive abhorrence of nuclear weapons, and a strong desire to get rid of them. Joseph Rotblat

Since the end of the Cold War two main nuclear powers have begun to make big reductions in their nuclear arsenals. Each of them is dismantling about 2,000 nuclear warheads a year. Joseph Rotblat

So I ask the nuclear powers to abandon the out-of-date thinking of the Cold War period and take a fresh look. Above all, I appeal to them to bear in mind the long-term threat that nuclear weapons pose to humankind and to begin action towards their elimination. Joseph Rotblat

War Mind Action Thinking Cold Cold War Abandon Weapons Threat Above Bear Take Towards Long-Term Look Period Powers Fresh Fresh Look Begin Them Ask Appeal Nuclear Humankind Elimination Nuclear Weapons Pose

The chief task was to stop the arms race before it brought utter disaster. However, after the collapse of communism and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, any rationale for having nuclear weapons disappeared. Joseph Rotblat

Communism Before Collapse Weapons Brought Having Rationale Disappeared Disaster Arms Arms Race However Chief Task Soviet Any Soviet Union Stop After Disintegration Race Union Utter Nuclear Nuclear Weapons

This means that the only function of nuclear weapons, while they exist, is to deter a nuclear attack. Joseph Rotblat

Weapons Deter Only Attack Exist While Means Function Nuclear Nuclear Weapons

When the START 2 treaty has been implemented - and remember it has not yet been ratified - we will be left with some 15,000 nuclear warheads, active and in reserve. Fifteen thousand weapons with an average yield of 20 Hiroshima bombs. Joseph Rotblat

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