---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Atoms for peace. Man is still the…"
description: "\"Atoms for peace. Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on earth.\" — David Sarnoff"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/david-sarnoff-18253_atoms_atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greates_997830.png"
---

#  Atoms for peace. Man is still the greatest miracle and the…

![“Atoms for peace. Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on earth.” quote by David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/david-sarnoff-18253_atoms_atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greates_997830.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/david-sarnoff-18253_atoms_atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greates_997830.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/david-sarnoff-18253_atoms_atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greates_997830.png)

> “Atoms for peace. Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on earth.”

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

## About This Quote

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

Human achievement is remarkable, yet humanity itself remains both the greatest wonder and the biggest challenge on Earth.

**In simple terms:** Humans are amazing but also problematic.

Key Takeaway

Recognize our potential while addressing our flaws.

Themes

humanity potential challenge

Mood

reflective concerned

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- global policy
- education reform
- environmental action
- conflict resolution

Key Concepts

existentialism ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we harness human ingenuity for good?
- What prevents us from solving our own problems?

A Different Perspective

Even with progress, human behavior often undermines solutions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Miracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracles/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/)

## Related quotes

> [Atoms for peace. Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on earth. \[Message tapped out by Sarnoff using a telegraph key…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greatest-miracle-and-the-greatest-2/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on this earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/man-is-still-the-greatest-miracle-and-the-greatest-problem-on-this/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [In 1958, I was a delegate to the Atoms for Peace conference in Geneva.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-reines/in-1958-i-was-a-delegate-to-the-atoms-for-peace-conference-in-geneva/)

[Frederick Reines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-reines/)

> [How embarrassing for man to be the greatest miracle on earth and not to understand it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/how-embarrassing-for-man-to-be-the-greatest-miracle-on-earth-and-not/)

[Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/)

> [It's natural to be skeptical of a story like Noah. However, the greatest miracle in the Bible is not Noah and the flood. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-turek/it-s-natural-to-be-skeptical-of-a-story-like-noah-however-the/)

[Frank Turek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-turek/)

> [I have seen miracles in my time, my brothers and sisters. The greatest miracle of all, I believe, is the transformation that comes into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/i-have-seen-miracles-in-my-time-my-brothers-and-sisters-the-greatest/)

[Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/)

> [The greatest miracle you can hope for is self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/the-greatest-miracle-you-can-hope-for-is-self-acceptance/)

[Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/)

> [The greatest miracle of all time, without any close seconds, is the universe. It is the miracle of all miracles, one that ineluctably points…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/the-greatest-miracle-of-all-time-without-any-close-seconds-is-the/)

[Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/)

> [“The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world and make him holy, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/the-greatest-miracle-that-god-can-do-today-is-to-take-an-unholy-man/)

[Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/)

> [“Sometimes the greatest miracle is not one of physical healing but one of peace, joy, and strength in the midst of a difficult time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-karen-michelle-ricci/sometimes-the-greatest-miracle-is-not-one-of-physical-healing-but-one/)

Dr. Karen Michelle Ricci

> [“And suddenly there came a second, when somehow for the first time I saw (as if a door had opened from a dark room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seraphim-rose/and-suddenly-there-came-a-second-when-somehow-for-the-first-time-i/)

[Seraphim Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seraphim-rose/)

> [“The greatest miracle God can do is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world, make him holy, put him back into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mack-tomlinson/the-greatest-miracle-god-can-do-is-to-take-an-unholy-man-out-of-an/)

[Mack Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mack-tomlinson/)

> [Nature is full of wonders; every atom is a standing miracle, and endowed with such qualities, as could not be impressed on it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nature-is-full-of-wonders-every-atom-is-a-standing-miracle-and/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [The greatest miracle of your success in life will not be that you finished, it will be that you had the courage to begin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-greatest-miracle-of-your-success-in-life-will-not-be-that-you/)

[Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/)

> [The greatest miracle of all is how I need you and how you needed me too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-miracle-of-all-is-how-i-need-you-and-how-you-needed-me/)

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

## More by David Sarnoff

> [The human brain must continue to frame the problems for the electronic machine to solve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/the-human-brain-must-continue-to-frame-the-problems-for-the/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [Competition brings out the best in products and the worst in people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/competition-brings-out-the-best-in-products-and-the-worst-in-people/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [Freedom is the oxygen without which science cannot breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/freedom-is-the-oxygen-without-which-science-cannot-breathe/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [An inventor is someone who makes another man rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/an-inventor-is-someone-who-makes-another-man-rich/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [What the human mind can conceive and believe it can accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/what-the-human-mind-can-conceive-and-believe-it-can-accomplish/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [The thrill, believe me, is as much in the battle as in the victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/the-thrill-believe-me-is-as-much-in-the-battle-as-in-the-victory/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [It is probable that television drama of high caliber and produced by first-rate artists will materially raise the level of dramatic taste of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/it-is-probable-that-television-drama-of-high-caliber-and-produced-by/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [No man can be successful, unless he first loves his work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/no-man-can-be-successful-unless-he-first-loves-his-work/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [“We are too prone to make technological instruments the scapegoats for the crimes of those who wield them. The products of modern science are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/we-are-too-prone-to-make-technological-instruments-the-scapegoats-for/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [Work and live to serve others, to leave the world a little better than you found it and garner for yourself as much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/work-and-live-to-serve-others-to-leave-the-world-a-little-better-than/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [Don't be misled into believing that somehow the world owes you a living. The boy who believes that his parents, or the government, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/don-t-be-misled-into-believing-that-somehow-the-world-owes-you-a/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [Research: the distance between an idea and its realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/research-the-distance-between-an-idea-and-its-realization/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [Whatever course you have chosen for yourself, it will not be a chore but an adventure if you bring to it a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/whatever-course-you-have-chosen-for-yourself-it-will-not-be-a-chore/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [I have learned to have more faith in the scientist than he does in himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/i-have-learned-to-have-more-faith-in-the-scientist-than-he-does-in/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

> [Nobody can be successful if he doesn't love his work, love his job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/nobody-can-be-successful-if-he-doesn-t-love-his-work-love-his-job/)

[David Sarnoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

[Explore all 35 David Sarnoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/)

## More Atoms quotes

> [If the polymer chain assumes a helicoidal conformation in the crystalline state, and if it does not contain asymmetric carbon atoms, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-natta/if-the-polymer-chain-assumes-a-helicoidal-conformation-in-the/)

Giulio Natta

> [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/)

[Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/)

> [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/)

[Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/)

> [ \[Decoding the human genome sequence\] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-the-most-significant/)

[Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/)

> [Though an atom is invisible, unthinkable, yet in it are the whole power and potency of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/though-an-atom-is-invisible-unthinkable-yet-in-it-are-the-whole-power/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [Traditional nationalism cannot survive the fissioning of the atom. One world or none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/traditional-nationalism-cannot-survive-the-fissioning-of-the-atom-one/)

[Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/)

> [I am not sure why, but I have been obsessed by the Atom Bomb ever since it first happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanford-wilson/i-am-not-sure-why-but-i-have-been-obsessed-by-the-atom-bomb-ever/)

[Lanford Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanford-wilson/)

> [History is the short trudge from Adam to atom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/history-is-the-short-trudge-from-adam-to-atom/)

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

> [“The dogma of the impossibility of determining the atomic constitution of substances, which until recently was advocated with such fervor by the most able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-korner/the-dogma-of-the-impossibility-of-determining-the-atomic-constitution/)

Wilhelm Korner

> [I have never seen what to me seemed an atom of proof that there is a future life. And yet-I am inclined to expect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-seen-what-to-me-seemed-an-atom-of-proof-that-there-is-a/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [“An atom is mostly made up of empty space. If you remove the empty space from every atom, the entire world's human population could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weike-wang/an-atom-is-mostly-made-up-of-empty-space-if-you-remove-the-empty/)

[Weike Wang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weike-wang/)

> [Nature is full of wonders; every atom is a standing miracle, and endowed with such qualities, as could not be impressed on it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/nature-is-full-of-wonders-every-atom-is-a-standing-miracle-and/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [ “\[Think\] of an experience from your childhood. Something you remember clearly, something you can see, feel, maybe even smell, as if you were really… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-grand/think-of-an-experience-from-your-childhood-something-you-remember/)

[Steve Grand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-grand/)

> [The books remind us that way down deep in our hearts, part of us knows that we are creatures of light and we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/the-books-remind-us-that-way-down-deep-in-our-hearts-part-of-us-knows/)

[Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/)

[Browse all 852 Atoms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Atoms for peace. Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on earth.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Sarnoff"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greatest-miracle-and-the-greatest/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Atoms"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greatest-miracle-and-the-greatest/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/david-sarnoff-18253_atoms_atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greates_997830.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/david-sarnoff-18253_atoms_atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greates_997830.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/230/david-sarnoff-18253_atoms_atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greates_997830.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Atoms for peace. Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on earth.” — David Sarnoff",
                "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": "David Sarnoff",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sarnoff/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Atoms for peace. Man is still...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greatest-miracle-and-the-greatest/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sarnoff/atoms-for-peace-man-is-still-the-greatest-miracle-and-the-greatest/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
