City Quote by Carl Sagan
“You probably don't need more weapons than what's required to destroy every city on earth. There's only 2,300 cities. So, the United States, by that criteria, only needs 2,300 nuclear weapons - well, we've got more than 25,000!”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Public Lecture on Disarmament, 1995
The speaker argues that the U.S. possesses far more nuclear weapons than needed to destroy every city, highlighting over‑armament.
In simple terms: We have excessive nuclear weapons beyond necessity.
Key Takeaway
Advocate for nuclear reduction.
Themes
war
nuclear weapons
over‑armament
policy
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- government policy
- international negotiations
- public advocacy
Key Concepts
deterrence theory
global security
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies could realistically reduce arsenals?
- How do deterrence arguments conflict with moral concerns?
A Different Perspective
Political realities may resist disarmament despite logical arguments.
![“[ When a religious couple wrote to Sagan about fulfilled prophecies, he wrote back in May 1996 :] If ‘fulfilled prophecy’ is your criterion, why do you not believe in materialistic science, which has an unparalleled record of fulfilled prophecy? Consider, for example, eclipses.” quote by Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/875/carl-sagan-160_belief_when-a-religious-couple-wrote-to-sagan-a_25095.jpg)
