---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm still bothered by the threat of…"
description: "\"I'm still bothered by the threat of nuclear war.\" — Alastair Reynolds"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/alastair-reynolds-2186_nuclear_i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nucl_1356840.jpg"
---

#  I'm still bothered by the threat of nuclear war.

![“I'm still bothered by the threat of nuclear war.” quote by Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/alastair-reynolds-2186_nuclear_i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nucl_1356840.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/alastair-reynolds-2186_nuclear_i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nucl_1356840.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/alastair-reynolds-2186_nuclear_i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nucl_1356840.jpg)

> “I'm still bothered by the threat of nuclear war.”

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The lingering fear of nuclear conflict reflects humanity’s anxiety about catastrophic technology and geopolitical instability.

**In simple terms:** Fear of nuclear war persists.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge and address nuclear risks.

Themes

security technology anxiety geopolitics future war

Mood

anxious thoughtful

Type

cautionary reflective

When to use this quote

- policy debates
- public awareness campaigns
- education curricula
- peace negotiations

Key Concepts

Existential risk deterrence global governance

Questions to Reflect On

- How does this fear shape your view of global security?
- What actions can reduce nuclear tension?

A Different Perspective

Even with deterrence, fear can dominate public discourse and hinder rational policy.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bothered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bothered/) [Bothered Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bothered-threat-4631765/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-war/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Threat Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat-nuclear-309773/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [We will stand mighty for peace and freedom and maintain a strong defense against terror and destruction. Our children will sleep free from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/we-will-stand-mighty-for-peace-and-freedom-and-maintain-a-strong/)

[William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/)

> [“At the end the threat of a nuclear war was enough to bring us together - isn't that romantic? Alright, maybe not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/at-the-end-the-threat-of-a-nuclear-war-was-enough-to-bring-us/)

[Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/)

> [Growing up during the Cold War, I remember the seemingly imminent threat of nuclear war. In primary school we were taught to 'duck-and-cover' for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/growing-up-during-the-cold-war-i-remember-the-seemingly-imminent/)

[Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/)

> [ Some of \[Donald Trump\] comments can be interpreted as potentially reducing the threat of nuclear war. The major threat right now is right on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/some-of-donald-trump-comments-can-be-interpreted-as-potentially/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [The threat of nuclear warfare is very, very low. Trump is no fool, and he sees the world as a globalized world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-t-flynn/the-threat-of-nuclear-warfare-is-very-very-low-trump-is-no-fool-and/)

[Michael T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-t-flynn/)

> [Both we and the Soviets face the common threat of nuclear destruction and there is no likelihood that either capitalism or communism will survive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/both-we-and-the-soviets-face-the-common-threat-of-nuclear-destruction/)

[John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/)

> [In many places around the world, all over the U.S. and Europe there are active nuclear power plants. And for many years during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oren-peli/in-many-places-around-the-world-all-over-the-u-s-and-europe-there-are/)

[Oren Peli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oren-peli/)

> [By far the single greatest danger facing humankind - in fact, all living beings on our planet - is the threat of nuclear destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/by-far-the-single-greatest-danger-facing-humankind-in-fact-all-living/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. He's had those for a long time. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/there-s-no-question-that-saddam-hussein-is-a-threat-yes-he-has/)

[Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/)

> [In some ways more painful is the fact that their experience appears to be fading from the collective memory of humankind. Having never experienced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadatoshi-akiba/in-some-ways-more-painful-is-the-fact-that-their-experience-appears/)

[Tadatoshi Akiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadatoshi-akiba/)

> [Some programs have been theatrical masterpieces, but all we're seeing is the negative side of nuclear war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/some-programs-have-been-theatrical-masterpieces-but-all-we-re-seeing/)

[Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/)

> [As difficult as it is to eliminate the risk of nuclear warfare, it requires fewer changes to the global economy than does averting or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graciela-chichilnisky/as-difficult-as-it-is-to-eliminate-the-risk-of-nuclear-warfare-it/)

[Graciela Chichilnisky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graciela-chichilnisky/)

> [Environmental scientists also show us clearly that from the environmental and ecological points of view that nuclear war is not preventable. The only way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadatoshi-akiba/environmental-scientists-also-show-us-clearly-that-from-the/)

[Tadatoshi Akiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadatoshi-akiba/)

> [This whole notion that the robot has to declare nuclear war is one part of the discussion, but it may not be reality. Reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to-declare-nuclear-war-is-one/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-prediction-of-nuclear-winter-is-drawn-not-of-course-from-any/)

[Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/)

## More by Alastair Reynolds

> [“We have made some collective mistakes as a species, it’s true – invested too much power in things we can’t see, let alone control.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/we-have-made-some-collective-mistakes-as-a-species-it-s-true-invested/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [“So much for the tolerant acceptance of the other. We’re forging out into deep space – who knows what we’ll meet out there? If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/so-much-for-the-tolerant-acceptance-of-the-other-we-re-forging-out/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [“Believe me, when you're dealing with infectious alien mind parasites, I always find primitive is best." Then, calmly, almost as if it were a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/believe-me-when-you-re-dealing-with-infectious-alien-mind-parasites-i/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [“There's a vorg loose," Meroka explained. "In case that escaped your attention. Ricasso's doing his bit for Swarm, trying to kill the thing before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/there-s-a-vorg-loose-meroka-explained-in-case-that-escaped-your/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [“The two men -- Fray and Malkin -- were standing near each other. They were not unarmed. They were quite seriously not unarmed. Both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/the-two-men-fray-and-malkin-were-standing-near-each-other-they-were/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [I couldn't think of anything more pointless than reading a piece of fiction written by a robot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-couldn-t-think-of-anything-more-pointless-than-reading-a-piece-of/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [When I'm working on one book, part of my imagination is thinking ahead to the next one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/when-i-m-working-on-one-book-part-of-my-imagination-is-thinking-ahead/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [There is enough material in the Kuiper Belt to build anything out there. We could gobble up all the little asteroids, filtering out all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/there-is-enough-material-in-the-kuiper-belt-to-build-anything-out/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [Victory loses its meaning without the memory of what you've vanquished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/victory-loses-its-meaning-without-the-memory-of-what-you-ve-vanquished/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [“I don't know." That was typical Sajaki; like all the genuinely clever people Sylveste had met he knew better than to feign understanding where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-don-t-know-that-was-typical-sajaki-like-all-the-genuinely-clever/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [Autocratic governments are masters of self-contradiction. They say one thing, do another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/autocratic-governments-are-masters-of-self-contradiction-they-say-one/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [Speaking for myself, I really struggle to pinpoint whether I became a scientist because I like science fiction, or did I gravitate to science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/speaking-for-myself-i-really-struggle-to-pinpoint-whether-i-became-a/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [“It’s not the span of time that counts, but what you do with it. While you humans have been grubbing around the galaxy, looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/it-s-not-the-span-of-time-that-counts-but-what-you-do-with-it-while/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [Dreams of warp drives and hyperspace are just that - dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/dreams-of-warp-drives-and-hyperspace-are-just-that-dreams/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

> [I had - and continued to have - great fun exploring the Revelation Space universe, but it was always clear to me that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-had-and-continued-to-have-great-fun-exploring-the-revelation-space/)

[Alastair Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

[Explore all 176 Alastair Reynolds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/)

## More Bothered quotes

> [Life is such unutterable hell, solely because it is sometimes beautiful. If we could only be miserable all the time, if there could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-such-unutterable-hell-solely-because-it-is-sometimes/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I never bothered about keeping track.Every now and then someone records one of my songs, and I get credit for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mose-allison/i-never-bothered-about-keeping-track-every-now-and-then-someone/)

[Mose Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mose-allison/)

> [Right, and you point out something important which is that people who don’t want to pay, people who are pirates, don’t get bothered by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/right-and-you-point-out-something-important-which-is-that-people-who/)

[Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/)

> [He went to Paris looking for answers to questions that bothered him so. He was impressive, young and aggressive, saving the world on his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/he-went-to-paris-looking-for-answers-to-questions-that-bothered-him/)

[Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/)

> [Many people think of me as a perfectionist, someone who polishes and shines each song and performance. I've always been bothered by that assumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/many-people-think-of-me-as-a-perfectionist-someone-who-polishes-and/)

[Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/)

> [People think unless you have loops and electronics and so on, you must be in your 50s. I quite like a lot of things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-thompson/people-think-unless-you-have-loops-and-electronics-and-so-on-you-must/)

[Teddy Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-thompson/)

> [When your house is on fire, you cant be bothered with the neighbors. Or, as we say in Chess, if your King is under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/when-your-house-is-on-fire-you-cant-be-bothered-with-the-neighbors-or/)

[Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/)

> [Sometimes you have to distance yourself from people. If they care, they will notice and be bothered. If they dont, you will know where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-you-have-to-distance-yourself-from-people-if-they-care-they/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I’m merely talking about learning to be less bothered by the actions of people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/i-m-merely-talking-about-learning-to-be-less-bothered-by-the-actions/)

[Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/)

> [To combat social awkwardness, I would just act like I couldn't be bothered - that kind of aloof persona or aloof demeanor. It's so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/to-combat-social-awkwardness-i-would-just-act-like-i-couldn-t-be/)

[Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/)

> [Quietly, President Obama has done warrantless wire tapping. And it was hardly covered. I don't know if any of the mainstream press bothered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/quietly-president-obama-has-done-warrantless-wire-tapping-and-it-was/)

[Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/)

> [“I'm sorry I bothered you, Susan. I'm just having a tough time. That's all. Have a good one," I said and walked away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/i-m-sorry-i-bothered-you-susan-i-m-just-having-a-tough-time-that-s/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [I'm not bothered by the idea of getting old, or I guess you could say by having arrived at old. I was 10 when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-m-not-bothered-by-the-idea-of-getting-old-or-i-guess-you-could-say/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Many of the factors that we think will cause motivation, such as fair pay and a good manager, won't make you love your job.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-christensen/many-of-the-factors-that-we-think-will-cause-motivation-such-as-fair/)

[Clayton Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-christensen/)

> [“Am I bothered? Am I bothered though. I ain't doing nothing cause I ain't bothered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-tate/am-i-bothered-am-i-bothered-though-i-ain-t-doing-nothing-cause-i-ain/)

[Catherine Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-tate/)

[Browse all 599 Bothered quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bothered/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I'm still bothered by the threat of nuclear war.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alastair Reynolds"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nuclear-war/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bothered"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nuclear-war/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/alastair-reynolds-2186_nuclear_i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nucl_1356840.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/alastair-reynolds-2186_nuclear_i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nucl_1356840.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9e7/alastair-reynolds-2186_nuclear_i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nucl_1356840.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm still bothered by the threat of nuclear war.” — Alastair Reynolds",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alastair Reynolds",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-reynolds/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I'm still bothered by the threat...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nuclear-war/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-reynolds/i-m-still-bothered-by-the-threat-of-nuclear-war/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```