--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Britain's independent possession of…" description: "\"Britain's independent possession of nuclear weapons has turned into a political touchstone for commitment to national defense, but this is an illusion...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/crispin-blunt-8906_commitment_britain-s-independent-possession-of-nucl_2275582.jpg" --- # Britain's independent possession of nuclear weapons has… ![“Britain's independent possession of nuclear weapons has turned into a political touchstone for commitment to national defense, but this is an illusion.” quote by Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/crispin-blunt-8906_commitment_britain-s-independent-possession-of-nucl_2275582.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/crispin-blunt-8906_commitment_britain-s-independent-possession-of-nucl_2275582.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/crispin-blunt-8906_commitment_britain-s-independent-possession-of-nucl_2275582.jpg) > “Britain's independent possession of nuclear weapons has turned into a political touchstone for commitment to national defense, but this is an illusion.” [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The claim that nuclear weapons guarantee national security is a false comfort that masks deeper strategic risks. **In simple terms:** Nuclear arms give a false sense of safety. Key Takeaway Question the real value of deterrence. Themes defense politics illusion security strategy Mood cautious critical analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - policy making - public debate - defense budgeting - international negotiations Key Concepts deterrence theory strategic stability political symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How does reliance on nuclear deterrence affect diplomatic relations? - What alternatives exist for national security? A Different Perspective Nuclear arsenals can provoke escalation and diplomatic strain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [National defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-defense/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Self-defense is only an illusion, a dark cloak beneath which lurks a razor-sharp dagger waiting to be plunged into the first unwary victim. Whoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wong-shun-leung/self-defense-is-only-an-illusion-a-dark-cloak-beneath-which-lurks-a/) [Wong Shun Leung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wong-shun-leung/) > [“His own first clue that Flaharty was involved had come when he’d found himself staring down the sights of his Barrett REC-7 at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-england/his-own-first-clue-that-flaharty-was-involved-had-come-when-he-d/) [Stephen England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-england/) > [It's important to understand the policy of the U.S. towards North Korea is to deny North Korea possession of a nuclear weapon and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rex-w-tillerson/it-s-important-to-understand-the-policy-of-the-u-s-towards-north/) [Rex W. Tillerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rex-w-tillerson/) > [We are told that the possession of nuclear weapons - in some cases even the testing of these weapons - is essential for national…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rotblat/we-are-told-that-the-possession-of-nuclear-weapons-in-some-cases-even/) [Joseph Rotblat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-rotblat/) > [Throughout out history, when people have looked for new ways to solve their problems, and to uphold the principles of this nation, many times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/throughout-out-history-when-people-have-looked-for-new-ways-to-solve/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [Italy has turned its back on its political class, and a new language of community, identity, and honesty is filling the gap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beppe-grillo/italy-has-turned-its-back-on-its-political-class-and-a-new-language/) [Beppe Grillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beppe-grillo/) > [“Monroe's presidency made poor men rich, turned political allies into friends, and united a divided people as no president had done since Washington.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlow-giles-unger/monroe-s-presidency-made-poor-men-rich-turned-political-allies-into/) [Harlow Giles Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlow-giles-unger/) > [The success of this Government, and thus the success of our Nation, depends in the last analysis upon the quality.of our career services. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-success-of-this-government-and-thus-the-success-of-our-nation/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Security against foreign danger is one of the primitive objects of civil society. It is an avowed and essential object of the American Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/security-against-foreign-danger-is-one-of-the-primitive-objects-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [A universal peace, it is to be feared, is in the catalogue of events, which will never exist but in the imaginations of visionary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/a-universal-peace-it-is-to-be-feared-is-in-the-catalogue-of-events/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [There is no plausible theory under which the record of the Pentagon Papers can be interpreted as relating to the national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-is-no-plausible-theory-under-which-the-record-of-the-pentagon/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Though a wide ocean separates the United States from Europe, yet there are various considerations that warn us against an excess of confidence or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/though-a-wide-ocean-separates-the-united-states-from-europe-yet-there/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) > [We will build a Navy of 350 surface ships and submarines, as recommended by the bipartisan National Defense Panel. We right now only have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-build-a-navy-of-350-surface-ships-and-submarines-as/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) ## More by Crispin Blunt > [Failure to find a way to incorporate political Islam in democracy, however uncomfortable its ideology is for secular liberals, will mean we have given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/failure-to-find-a-way-to-incorporate-political-islam-in-democracy/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [We simply do not have time as we move from one meeting to the next to have hours to peruse leisure websites of whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/we-simply-do-not-have-time-as-we-move-from-one-meeting-to-the-next-to/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [The Islamist camp is infused with a righteous indignation, as the forces of old, corrupt and rotten Egypt unite to try and drive them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/the-islamist-camp-is-infused-with-a-righteous-indignation-as-the/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [In 2013 I voted against military intervention in Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/in-2013-i-voted-against-military-intervention-in-syria/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [We don't comment on special forces operations. And if you run an operation for a long time as we have here, and in Libya,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/we-don-t-comment-on-special-forces-operations-and-if-you-run-an/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Frankly, everyone knows that Iain Duncan Smith is not making the impact we would all like him to be as our leader and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/frankly-everyone-knows-that-iain-duncan-smith-is-not-making-the/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [We are in this Alice in Wonderland world where parliament has approved a motion saying: 'notes the government will not deploy U.K. troops in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/we-are-in-this-alice-in-wonderland-world-where-parliament-has/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [U.K. policy in Libya before and since the intervention of March 2011 was founded on erroneous assumptions and an incomplete understanding of the country…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/u-k-policy-in-libya-before-and-since-the-intervention-of-march-2011/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [There may be connections between the nearest prison to Oxford these days, HMP Bullingdon, and other institutions of that name. I have yet to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/there-may-be-connections-between-the-nearest-prison-to-oxford-these/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [The private sector complains that some of the agencies set up to advise and assist them in protecting their networks, such as CESG, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/the-private-sector-complains-that-some-of-the-agencies-set-up-to/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [Turkey is an important strategic partner facing a volatile period. It needs and deserves our support, but that support needs to include our critique…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/turkey-is-an-important-strategic-partner-facing-a-volatile-period-it/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [The coalition government made it clear from the outset that it would proceed with defendant anonymity in rape cases only if the evidence justifying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/the-coalition-government-made-it-clear-from-the-outset-that-it-would/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [I have known Damian Green for over 20 years, since we were elected together in 1997. He stands out among us with the highest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/i-have-known-damian-green-for-over-20-years-since-we-were-elected/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [The requirement for military force is clear when looking at the first of the nine points agreed in Vienna, which states that 'Syria's unity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/the-requirement-for-military-force-is-clear-when-looking-at-the-first/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) > [There is fear of impoverishment as a narrowly based ideological government, infused with medieval religious rectitude, lays waste to the Egyptian economy, which, given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/there-is-fear-of-impoverishment-as-a-narrowly-based-ideological/) [Crispin Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) [Explore all 77 Crispin Blunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/) ## More Commitment quotes > [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“You make me believe in happiness... if I had my way, if anything were up to me, I’d never be without you. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-kirchoff/you-make-me-believe-in-happiness-if-i-had-my-way-if-anything-were-up/) [Courtney Kirchoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-kirchoff/) > [Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else, although, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/golf-is-such-a-big-commitment-and-so-is-acting-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [When you make a commitment to a relationship, you invest your attention and energy in it more profoundly because you now experience ownership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/when-you-make-a-commitment-to-a-relationship-you-invest-your/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [ “For \[erotically intelligent couples\], love is a vessel that contains both security and adventure, and commitment offers one of the great luxuries of life:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-erotically-intelligent-couples-love-is-a-vessel-that-contains/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 4,004 Commitment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Britain's independent possession of nuclear weapons has turned into a political touchstone for commitment to national defense, but this is an illusion.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Crispin Blunt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/britain-s-independent-possession-of-nuclear-weapons-has-turned-into-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commitment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/britain-s-independent-possession-of-nuclear-weapons-has-turned-into-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/crispin-blunt-8906_commitment_britain-s-independent-possession-of-nucl_2275582.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/crispin-blunt-8906_commitment_britain-s-independent-possession-of-nucl_2275582.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00b/crispin-blunt-8906_commitment_britain-s-independent-possession-of-nucl_2275582.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Britain's independent possession of nuclear weapons has turned into a political touchstone for commitment to…” — Crispin Blunt", "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": "Crispin Blunt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crispin-blunt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Britain's independent possession of nuclear weapons...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/britain-s-independent-possession-of-nuclear-weapons-has-turned-into-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crispin-blunt/britain-s-independent-possession-of-nuclear-weapons-has-turned-into-a/#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 } } ] } ```