--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It used to be you needed to have a very…" description: "\"It used to be you needed to have a very large sophisticated state before you could even have a nuclear weapon... Now the technology is widespread enoug..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/dick-cheney-1810_able_it-used-to-be-you-needed-to-have-a-very_2421139.jpg" --- # It used to be you needed to have a very large… ![“It used to be you needed to have a very large sophisticated state before you could even have a nuclear weapon... Now the technology is widespread enough. It doesn't take very many people to be able to cobble together a devastating attack, and all it takes is one.” quote by Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/dick-cheney-1810_able_it-used-to-be-you-needed-to-have-a-very_2421139.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/dick-cheney-1810_able_it-used-to-be-you-needed-to-have-a-very_2421139.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de0/dick-cheney-1810_able_it-used-to-be-you-needed-to-have-a-very_2421139.jpg) > “It used to be you needed to have a very large sophisticated state before you could even have a nuclear weapon... Now the technology is widespread enough. It doesn't take very many people to be able to cobble together a devastating attack, and all it takes is one.” [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nuclear weapons have become accessible to small groups due to technology diffusion. **In simple terms:** Advanced tech lets few create massive threats. Key Takeaway Secure technology to prevent misuse. Themes security nuclear proliferation technology Mood serious urgent Type political security When to use this quote - government labs - private research - online forums Key Concepts global security terrorism policy making Questions to Reflect On - How can we monitor emerging tech? - What policies deter lone actors? A Different Perspective Preventing misuse is technically challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear weapon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapon/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sophisticated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophisticated/) [Sophisticated State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophisticated-state-6127906/) [State Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-nuclear-3783875/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Technology Widespread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology-widespread-6127907/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Weapon Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapon-technology-5285560/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [I worry most about proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in such a way that they could be acquired by non-governmental organizations, like terrorist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-l-jones/i-worry-most-about-proliferation-of-weapons-of-mass-destruction-in/) [James L. Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-l-jones/) > [Don't let that weapon technology proliferate. Don't let Saddam Hussein get capability for nuclear or chemical weapons, because he's already shown a willingness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sununu/don-t-let-that-weapon-technology-proliferate-don-t-let-saddam-hussein/) [John Sununu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sununu/) > [Pakistan is a nation, which, if it falls apart, if it becomes a failed state, there are nuclear weapons there and you've got terrorists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/pakistan-is-a-nation-which-if-it-falls-apart-if-it-becomes-a-failed/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [A North Korea that has the capability to use a nuclear weapon that can reach an American city or those of an ally poses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-frankel/a-north-korea-that-has-the-capability-to-use-a-nuclear-weapon-that/) [Lois Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-frankel/) > [If the Iranians were to have a nuclear weapon they could proliferate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-the-iranians-were-to-have-a-nuclear-weapon-they-could-proliferate/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-united-states-will-do-what-we-must-to-prevent-iran-from-obtaining/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The Iranian government is the government that supplied the arms on the Karin-A to the Palestinian Authority several years ago, they are the world's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/the-iranian-government-is-the-government-that-supplied-the-arms-on/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [And it raises a fundamental question: How long can we move the world in one direction while we move in another direction, and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-spratt/and-it-raises-a-fundamental-question-how-long-can-we-move-the-world/) [John Spratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-spratt/) > [I think we've got to really get serious. And I'd put it right up there, the next four years, we are gonna get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-r-hill/i-think-we-ve-got-to-really-get-serious-and-i-d-put-it-right-up-there/) [Christopher R. Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-r-hill/) > [Am I not correct in saying that Iran has never voiced that they are developing a nuclear weapon, nor do they have any intention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-johnson/am-i-not-correct-in-saying-that-iran-has-never-voiced-that-they-are/) [Gary Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-johnson/) > [The more patient we are, the closer the Iranians get to a nuclear weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-rose/the-more-patient-we-are-the-closer-the-iranians-get-to-a-nuclear/) [Charlie Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-rose/) > [The other thing is going to be me being able to show not just the American people or the Israeli people but the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-other-thing-is-going-to-be-me-being-able-to-show-not-just-the/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The fundamental premise is that neither the United States or the international community is going to allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/the-fundamental-premise-is-that-neither-the-united-states-or-the/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [If in the words which the Secretary of State has just used, the use of a nuclear weapon is to be avoided 'at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/if-in-the-words-which-the-secretary-of-state-has-just-used-the-use-of/) [Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/) > [If you took every nuclear weapon ever built at the height of the Cold War, lumped them together and blew them up at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-plait/if-you-took-every-nuclear-weapon-ever-built-at-the-height-of-the-cold/) [Phil Plait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-plait/) ## More by Dick Cheney > [A little tough talk in the midst of a campaign or as part of a presidential debate cannot obscure a record of 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/a-little-tough-talk-in-the-midst-of-a-campaign-or-as-part-of-a/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Senator Kerry says he sees two Americas. It makes the whole thing mutual - America sees two John Kerrys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/senator-kerry-says-he-sees-two-americas-it-makes-the-whole-thing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I am a deficit hawk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-am-a-deficit-hawk/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [We know he's been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-know-he-s-been-absolutely-devoted-to-trying-to-acquire-nuclear/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think the decision that's been made with respect to allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-the-decision-that-s-been-made-with-respect-to-allowing-gays/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [ \[In response to the question "Do you think that you underestimated the insurgency's strength?"\] I think so. I guess if I look back on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/in-response-to-the-question-do-you-think-that-you-underestimated-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Let us rid ourselves of the fiction that low oil prices are somehow good for the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/let-us-rid-ourselves-of-the-fiction-that-low-oil-prices-are-somehow/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I think we need to significantly reduce the regulatory burden on the private sector. The Obama administration is doing the opposite. They're loading on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-think-we-need-to-significantly-reduce-the-regulatory-burden-on-the/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm often asked why I left politics and went to Halliburton and I explain that I reached the point where I was mean-spirited, short-tempered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-often-asked-why-i-left-politics-and-went-to-halliburton-and-i/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I do find that the mainstream media oftentimes is what I would consider off base or has a bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-do-find-that-the-mainstream-media-oftentimes-is-what-i-would/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I'm one of those people who believes that part of the greatness of the United States is our private sector. It's what we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-m-one-of-those-people-who-believes-that-part-of-the-greatness-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [I believe that we were not as effective in the second term dealing with this issue of nuclear none proliferation as we had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/i-believe-that-we-were-not-as-effective-in-the-second-term-dealing/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Sarah Palin is an attractive candidate, but based on her background, she only was governor for what, two years. I don't think she passed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/sarah-palin-is-an-attractive-candidate-but-based-on-her-background/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [My own belief is that the way we grow the economy, create jobs, create wealth is in the private sector. The government doesn't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/my-own-belief-is-that-the-way-we-grow-the-economy-create-jobs-create/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [From our perspective, trying to deal with this continuing campaign of terror, if you will, the war on terror that we're engaged in, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/from-our-perspective-trying-to-deal-with-this-continuing-campaign-of/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) [Explore all 207 Dick Cheney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It used to be you needed to have a very large sophisticated state before you could even have a nuclear weapon... Now the technology is widespread enough. 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